The Life of Margaret Fox, Wife of George Fox: Comp. from Her Own Narrative and Other Sources ...

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THE LIFE

OP

MARGARET FOX-

WIFE OF GEORGE FOX.

OOHPILED FROM HEB OWN NARRATIYB, AND OTHER SOURCES ;

WXVH A

SELECTION FROM HER EPISTLES, Etc.

^PHILADELPHIA:

PUBUSHID BT THB

ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS FOR THE DIFFUSION OF RELIGIOUS

AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE,

100 NoBTH TiNTH Strut.
1859.

tieo,§^*^ ^^

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1

PEEFACE.

^'VN^V^VX/WV^WV

The Society of Friend^ has numbered within ita
ranks many eminent women, who have enunciated
and explained its doctrines and testimonies, both by
their ministry and writings ; and have illustrated its
Christian faith by the consistency of their lives and
conversation, and their patience under persecution.
Amongst these, none shone more conspicuously, in
the early days of the Society, than the subject of this
memoir. Having been convinced by the baptizing
ministry of George Fox, she became a faithful mem-
ber of the church ; her influence and reputation in
the conmiunity, as well as her ministry and writings,
greatly contributing to advance the cause of truth.
As a preacher of the Gospel, she was fervent and
weighty; as a writer, bold, earnest and persuasive;

(iii)

IT PBEFAOE.

in her disposition^ charitable and hospitable ; and a
warm sympathizer with the afflicted and persecuted.
Her works having been long out of prints and
almost unknown in this country, it is believed that
the following compilation, giving a brief account
of her life, a selecUon from her epistles, and a few
extracts from her other writings, will prove accept-
able to the reader.

LIFE

OP

MARGARET FOX.

CHAPTER I. 1614-1668.

HEB BIRTH — PARENTAGE — MARRIES TH0MA8 FELL, AND SET-
TLES AT 8WARTHM0RE — RELIGIOUS LIFE — VISITED BT
GEORGE FOX — SHE AND HER CHILDREN OONYINOED — DIS-
PLEASURE OF HER HUSBAND — LETTER FROM R. FARNSWORTH
— JUDGE FELL RECONCILED, AND A MEETING ESTABLISHED

' AT HER HOUSE — TESTIMONY OF A. PIERSON AND WILLIAM
CATON TO THE EXEMPLARY CHARACTER OF THE FAMILY —
DEATH OF HER HUSBAND — HIS CHARACTER — LETTER OF
CONDOLENCE FROM A. PIERSON ^— THEIR CHILDREN.

Margaret Fox was born at Marsh Grange, in
the parish of Dalton, in Fournis, Lancashire) Eng-
land, in the year 1614. She was the daughter of
John Askew, who was of an ancient and honourable
family ; he was honest, pious and charitable, and a
man of estate and education.

She was married, in her eighteenth year, to
Thomas Fell, of Swarthmore, a barrister-at-law, after-
wards a justice of the Quorum in his county, a member
1* (6)

of Bcveral Parliaments, vice-chancellor of the coun^
Falatino of Lancaster, aod also a judge in the circuit
of West Cheater and North AVales, 4c. Strict in-
tegrity and loTC of justice, tempered with mercy and
moderation, were conspicuous traita in his character.
Iq tho seventj-siKth year of her age eho wrote &
short biographical sketch, rehearsing some of the
principal events of her life, which has heen largely
used in the preparation of this work ; in which,
speaking of her husband, ahe saya : — "We lived
together twenty-six years, in which time we had nine
children. He was a tender and loving husband to
me, and a tender father to his children, and one that
Bought after God in the best way that was made
known to him. I was about sisteen years younger
than he, and was one that sought ai^r the best
tilings, being desirotis to serve God, so that I might
be accepted of Him; and was inquiring after the
way of the Lord, and went often to hear the best
ministers that came into our parts, whom we fre-
quently entertained at our bouse ; many of those that
were accounted the most serious, godly men, some of
vhoni we then called lecturing ministers ; and often
had prayera and reli^ous exorcises in our family.
This I hoped I did well in, but often feared I was
short of the right way; and after this manner I was
inquiring and seeking about twenty yeura, when, in
1652, it pleased tlie Lord, in his infinite mercy and
f^oodncHH, to «cnd George Foi into our country, who
declared auto ua the eternal truth, as it is in Jesus;
ftnd by tho Word and power of the eternal God,

MARGABST FOX. 7

turned many &om darkness unto light^ and from
the power of Satan unto God."

The powerful and awakening nature of the spi-
ritual ministry of George Fox, and the effect pro-
duced by it on her own mind, and his discourse on
this occasion, she thus describes : —

^' Our house being a place open to entertain min-
isters and religious people, one of George Fox's
friends brought him thither, where he staid all
night ; and the next day being a lecture or fast-day,
he went to Ulverstone steeple-house, but came not in
till people were gathered; I and my children had
been a long time there before. And when they were
singing, before the sermon, he came in ; and when
they had done, he stood up, upon a seat or form, and
desired ' that he might have liberty to speak ;' and
he that was in the pulpit said he might. And the
first words that he spoke were as foUoweth : ^ He is
not a Jew that is one outward, neither is that cir-
cumcision which is outward ; but he is a Jew that is
one inward, and that is circumcision which is of the
heart.' And so he went on and said 'that Christ
was the light of the world, and lighteth every man
that cometh into the world ; and that by this light
they might be gathered to God,' &c. I stood up in
my pew, and wondered at his doctrine; for I had
never heard such before : and then he went on, and
opened the Scriptures, and said: 'The Scriptures
were the prophet's words, and Christ's and the apos-
tles' words ; and what, as they spoke, they enjoyed
and possessed, and had it from the Lord :' and said :

UPE OF

' Then what had any to do with the Scriptures, but
aa tbey came to the spirit that gave them forth. Yon
will Bay Christ Baith this, and the apostles aay this ;
but what canst thou say? Art ihou a, child of light,
and hast walked in the light; and wliat thou speak-
eth, is it inwardly from God/ &c. This opened me
so, that it cut me to the heart; and then I saw clearly
we were all wrong. So I sat down in mj pew again,
and cried bitterly ; and I cried '' my spirit to the
Lord ; ' We are all thieves ; wc arc all thieves ;* we
have taken the Scriptures in words, and know no-
thing of them in n-ir 'ves.' So that served me, that
I cannot well tell wunt ho spoke afterwards; but he
vent on declaring against fa.lBe prophets, priests and
deceivers of the people. And he came to our house
again that night, and spoke in the family amongst
the servants, and they were all generally convinced.
And I waa struck into such sudness, I knew not what
to do, my husband being from home. I saw it waa
the truth, and I could not deny i( ; and I did as the
apostle saith : ' I received the truth in the love of it ;'
and it was opened to me so clear, that I had never a
tittle in my heart against it ; but I desired the Lord
that I might be kept in it, and then I desired no
greater portion."

George Fox, in describing the circumstances at-
tending his visit to Swarthmore at this time, after

* FrobaUtjr in illusion to John i. 1: "Verilj, Teril;, I
m; QDto ;-au, lie that enUreth nol bf the door into the
ihcepfotcl. but cUmbelh np some other wb;, Iba Mme u k

thief, and a robber."

MARGARET TOX. 9

ft

relating his controversies with the parish priest^ Lam-
pitt, and his discourses on religious subjects with M.
Fell and her children, in which they were measura-
bly convinced, says that, " soon after, a day was to
be observed for a humiliation; and Margaret Fell
asked me to go with her to the steeple-house at Ul-
verstone, for she was not wholly come off from them.
I replied : ^ I must do as I am ordered of the Lord.
So I left her, and walked into the fields ; and the
word of the Loru came unto me, saying : ' Go to the
steeple-house after them.' When I came, Lampitt
was singing with his people; ln\\^ his spirit was so foul,
and the matter they sung bs^ .ronsuitable to their
states, that after they had done siting, I was moved
of the Lord to speak to him and the people. Then,
as the Lord opened ftirther, I showed them that He
was come to teach His people by his spirit, and to
bring them off from their old ways, religions, churches
and worships; for all their religions, worships and
ways were but taking other men's words ; but they
were out of the life and spirit which those were in
who gave them forth. Then cried out one Justice
Sawrey: 'Take him away;' but Judge FelFs wife
said to the officers: 'Let him alone; why may he
not speak, as well as any other V Lampitt, also, the
priest, in deceit said : ' Let him speak.' So at length,
when I had declared a pretty while. Justice Sawrey
caused the constable to put me out; and then I
spake to the people in the grave-yard."

Margaret Fell continues : " And when I and my
children, and a great part of our servants, were so

conTineed and cooTcrted unto God, my husband was
not at home, being gone to London. When he eame
home, and found us the meet part of his family
changed from our fonner principles and porsuneionS)
which he left us in, he was much surprised at our
sudden change; for some envious people, our neigh-
bours, went and met him, and informed him that we
had entertained such men as had taken us off from
going to church, which bo was very much concerned
at, and seemed much troubled.

And it so happened that RieUard Farnsworth,
and some other Friends (that came into our parte a
little aft*r George Fox), were then at our house; and
they discoursed with him, and did persuade him to
be still, and weigh things before he did anything
hastily, and his spirit was somewhat calmed. And
afier he had heard them speak awhile, he waa better
satisfied. I desired them to stay, and not go away,
for George Fox will come this evening. And I
woald have had my husband to have heard them all,
and satisfied himself further about them, because
they had so prepossessed him against them, of such
dangerous, fearful ihings. And then ho was pretty
moderato aud quiet; and his dinner being ready,
he went to it, and I went in and sat mo down
by him. And whilst I waa sitting, the power of the
Lord seized upon me ; and be was struck with amaze-
ment, and knew not what to think. And the chil>
dren were all quiet and still, and grown sober, and
could not play on their music, that they wero lcnm>
ing; and all these things made him qniot,"

MARGARET FOX. 11

^^At nighty George Fox came; and afler supper,
as my husband was sitting in the parlor, I asked if
he might come in ? and he said ' Yes.' So George,
without any compliment, walked into the room, and
began to speak presently; and the £unily, and James
Naylor, and Bichard Eamsworth, came in; and he
spoke very excellently, as ever I heard him, and
opened Christ's and the apostle's practices : and if
all England had been there, I thought they could
not deny the truth of these things."

George Fox relates : " Soon after Judge Fell
being come home, Margaret his wife desiring me to
return thither, and I feeling freedom of the Lord so
to do, went back to Swarthmore. I found the priests,
and professors, and Justice Sawrey, had much in-
censed Judge Fell and Captain Sands against the
truth by their lies; I answered all his objections,
and so thoroughly satisfied him by the Scriptures,
that he was convinced in his judgment. After we
had discoursed a pretty while together, he was satis-
fied, and came to see, by the openings of the spirit
of God in his heart, over alf the priests and teachers
in the world, and did not go to hear them for some
years before he died ; for he knew it was the truth
I declared, and that Christ was the teacher of his
people, and their Saviour."

The following letter, addressed to Margaret Fell
by Richard Famsworth, a few months after, may
serve to show the continued interest he took in her
convincement and establishment in the truth : —

nth, 1662! ^M

f the Lord, ^|

12 LIFE 01

"BaStw, yor/caliire, 12th tiumth, 1

Deab Sister: —

Mind to stand in the counoil of the Lord,
which will keep down everything that would be
exalted, and will not sufier tLeo to conform to any-
thing but that which ia pure. Oh I be fiuthful, he
fiuthf ul ta what thou knoweat ; and stand perfect in
the will uf the Lord ; and the Lord will keep thee,
in Hia own power to Himself, and arm thee eyery
waj with Hia love and power. Stand iii Hia counoil,
and it will discoyer all the conauttations of the
enemy i and will seatter jlII imagiuations, and will
not suffer them to take place in thee, being but obe-
dient to Him. Love not the world, but mind that
which would draw thee t» live in the pure obedience
of Him who is pure; and standing in the pure fear,
it will take away all slavish fears, and it will not
suffer thee to conform to tie world in anything; but
thou wilt be preserved in obedience to the Lord in
what he dotb require ; for the fear of the Lord
keepeth the heart clean ; and it will keep thee cle&n,
and open to receive the teachings of ttie Father.
Oh ! stand fast in the liberty whorewith Christ has
set thee free, and it will keep thee from the entan-
glementa of the world ; and thy preservation will be,
in atAnding in the council of ihc Lord, who \s the
mighty CounBcUor, the ererlasting Prince of peace;
who will lead thee and guide thee into the everlast-
ing kingdom of the Father, where there is peace and
joy, rest, quietncaa and assurance forever I Give
th^elf up wholly to llie Lord, who will preserve thco

MARGARET FOX. 18

in faithfulness and purity ; and the everlasting Lord
God Almighty keep thee, and all the rest of our dear
Friends, in the power of His love, and in the power
of His truth, perfect in His will ; that ye may grow
from strength to strength, and be established in the
everlasting truth ; and that He alone may be glori-
fied, who is Lord of lords, and King of kings; to
whom be glory, and honour, and praise, and thanks^
for ever and ever I Amen.

I received thy letter, which did much rejoice
me. When thy letter, with James and George, came,
I was then gone towards Derbyshire, where I met
with a gathered church. I have been in much ser-
vice since I came from you. Friends are much em-
boldened and courageous, who have had great oppo-
sition and persecution here away; but all is at a
stand ; the enemy is much in silence ; and the Lord
carries on His own work, much to His own praise ;
to Him alone be glory, and honour, for ever and
ever!

My dear, love in ihe Lord presents itself to you
all, to thy son George, and to thy daughters, and to
all those thy servants in the truth of God ; and the
Lord cause them all to grow up into the truth, that
He may be exalted amongst you all. Al\l my dear
hearts, prize the love and mercy of the Lord, and
daily mind your growth into that which is eternal ;
and the everlasting love and power of the Lord
keep you all in faithfulness to Him in what you
know. Keep in the cross, and purity will grow.
The safest way is in the cross; take up the cross
2

14 LIFE OF

daily; mind to be guided by that wbicb crosseth
your own wills, and it will bring every idle word,
thought and deed to judgment in you ; and so the
old man will be crucified, with the affections and
lusts thereof; and you shall find the Lord to sit as a
refiner, to judge out all the old leaven, the old
nature; and so the new man will be raised up ; and
Christ, the power of Gkni, will rule and reign in
righteousness in you, who is the King of saints ; to
Him alone be all praise and thanks forevermorel
Amen!"

* Although Judge Fell did not openly unite with
Friends, or attend their meetings, he was very favour-
able to their views, and generally sat in an adjoining
room, where he could hear, without appearing to join
in their worship. Some Friends, in his presence,
speaking of the difficulty in obtaining a place to hold
their meetings in that part of the country, he
promptly and generously offered them his own house,
saying : " You may meet here, if you will ;" and
notice being given, '' there was a good large meeting
there the next first-day,'' which was the first held at
Swarthmore, where a meeting was established, and
continued from 1652 to 1690. The room appro-
priated for this purpose was the large hall on the
ground-floor, at one end of which, within the space
of a bay window, the floor is raised two steps. In
this place, it is said, George Fox and his wife
usually took their seats, and the other ministering
Friends^ when present From this window George

MARGABET FOX. 15

Fox often preached to the people assembled in the
adjoining orchard; when they were unable^ from
their numbers, to meet within.

George Fox's fame^ spreading with his doctrine,
usually caused a large company to assemble to hear
him, when he visited Swarthmore. At one time,
Judge Fell, upon returning home, finding his stables
filled with the horses of these strange guests, com-
plained to his wife of the large accession of new
comers, saying, if this continued, they would soon be
eaten out, and have no provender left for themselves.
To this she pleasantly replied, that charity doth not
impoverish; and notwithstanding all this extra con-
sumption, she fully believed that, at the end of the
year, he would have no cause to regret their hospi-
tality. And so it proved, for the same year the crop
of hay was so abundant, that they had not only plenty
for themselves, but a large surplus to sell.

The example of this excellent family doubtless
exercised a powerful influence on the minds of many
who came within the sphere of its influence, inviting
them to come taste and handle for themselves of the
good Word of life, of which they had been made par-
takers, by yielding obedience to the requirings of
truth. Several of their household became preachers
of righteousness in word and conversation, and were
instrumental in turning many from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God. Anthony
Pierson, in a letter dated in 1653, thus describes the
impressions which a visit to Swarthmore produced on
his mind : '' Oh ! how gracious the Lord was to me

16 LI VE or

in carrjing me to Judge Fell's, to see the wonders
of His power and wisdom ; a family walkiug in the
feftr of the Lord, conversing daily with Him, eruoi-
fied to the world, and living only to God. I was BO
confounded, all my knowledge and wisdom hecame
folly; my mouth was stopped, my conscience con-
vinced, and the secrets of my heart were made mani-
fest, and that Lord was discoYored to be nc-ar, wtom I
ignorantly worshipped. I have seen at Judge Fell's,
and have been informed from that precious soul his
consort, in some measure what those things mean,
which before I counted the overflowing of giddy
br^ns. Dear heart, pity and pray for me, and let
all obligations of former friendship be discharged, in
well wishes to the soul of the old family friend, that
he may partake with them of your heavenly posaes-
Bion."

In confirmation of this, is the testimony of William
Catott, an inmate of the family. He says : —

"Oh! the love which in that day abounded among
UB, especially in that family I and oh ! the freshness
of the power of the Ixird God, which then was
nmongst ua; and the Kcal for Him and His truth,
the comfort and refreshment which we had from His
presence, the nearness and JcarncHS that was amongst
us one towards another, the openings and revelations
which we then had ! my heart is affected with the
romembrance of them at this very day. And henoo
came that worthy family to be so renowned in the
nation, the fame of which spread much among
Friends ; and the power and presence of the Lord

MABQARET FOX. 17

Deing so much ihere with us, it was as a means to in-
duce many, even from afar, to come thither ; so that
ait one time there would have been Friends out of
five or six counties: all which tended to the aug-
menting of my refreshment. And on the other hand
was I cherished and encouraged in the way of life^
by my entirely beloved friend Margaret Fell, who as
a tender-hearted nursing mother cared for me, and
was as tender of me, as if I had been one of her own
children. Oh I the kindness, the respect and friend-
ship which she showed me, ought never to be for-
gotten by me."

Margaret Fell continues, speaking of her husband :
^' He lived about six years after I was convinced, in
which time it pleased the Lord to visit him with
sickness, wherein he became more than usually loving
and kind to our friends called Quakers, having been
a merciful man to ihe Lord's people. I and many
other Friends were well satisfied, the Lord in mercy
received him to Himself.'^

His death occurred in the eighth month, 1658, he
being about sixty years of age, leaving one son and
ven daughters.*

se^

* The son's name was George ; the daughters, Margaret,
married to John Bous ; Sarah, to William Mead ; Mary, to
Thomas Lower; Susanna, to William Ingram; Bachel, to

Daniel Abraham ; Isabel, to Yeomans, afterwards to

Abraham Morris; and Bridget, to John Draper. These
marriages all occurred after his death.

John Bous suffered severe persecutions in New England,
and in addition to many cruel whippings, had his right ear
2*

18 LiFB or

William Penn^ speaking of him, says : '^ Being a
just and wise man, and seeing in his own wife and
&mily a full confutation of all the popular clamors
against the way of truth, he covered them what he
oould, and freely opened his doors, and gave up his
house to his wife and her friends, not valuing the
reproach of ignorant or evil-minded people ; which I
here mention to his and her honour. That house
was, for some years at first, till the truth had opened
its way in the southern parts of the island, an eminent
receptacle of this people."

Alexander Parker thus condoles with her on the
death of her husband, and bears testimony to his
worth: '^Dear Sister, be thou comforted and re-
freshed; though an outward stay be taken from thee,
the Lord, I know, will never leave thee nor forsake
thee : thy house is not left desolate, but the Ood of
Jacob will be thy refuge, and the Lord thy Maker
is thy husband. It was but very lately I heard of
the laying down of the body of thy husband, and
truly it did at first sadden my spirit, knowing his
dear love and tender care over the Lord's lambs."

eat off. He waa a natiye of Barbadoes, subsequently settled
near London. William Mead wag the companion of William
Penn at the time of their persecution and celebrated trial
at the Old Baily, familiar to all readers of Friends' history.

HABOABBt FOX. 10

CHAPTER 11. 1658-1662.

LETTERS TO CBOMWELL — LETTER FBOK A. BIQQE — QEOBOI
VOX APPREHENDED AT HER HOUSE — HER ACCOUNT OP HIS
APPREHENSION — GOES TO LONDON — INTERVIEW WITH KINO
CHARLES II. — LETTER AND ADDRESSES TO HIM AND THB
PARLIAMENT — INSURRECTION OP THE FIFTH MONARCHY
MEN — SOLICITS AND OBTAINS THE DISCHARGE OF G. FOX —
SEVERAL LETTERS TO THB KING, DUKE OF YORK, EXa —
VISITS COL. HACKER IN PRISON — LETTER TO HER CHILDREN
— RETURNS TO LONDON — ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH THB
KINO RESPECTING THE IMPRISONMENT OF FRIENDS — RE-
TURNS HOME — LETTER TO THE KINO — LETTER FROM T.
HOWGILL.

This devoted woman, soon after her convincement,
felt called to plead the cause of the persecuted and
oppressed before the rulers of the land. She fear-
lessly approached the monarchs, and those in power,
at various times during the course of her life, and
laid before them the sufferings of Friends, explained
their principles, and both by word and writing warned
them of the consequences that would be likely to fol-
low; that the righteous judgments of the Lord
would be against such, who were persecuting others
for conscience' sake. Her services in this way
were of the most persevering and undaunted kind,
and manifested her to be one in spirit and courage
with her friend, George Fox. About this pe-
riod, she addressed four letters to the Protector,

\

20 LIFE OF

Oliver Cromwell ; in the second, she " bears witness
to the spiritual worship of God, and to His mighty
day, and teaching of His people Himself, and against
all the outward formal worships which are without the
spirit of truth, and of their overthrow ; and against
all the dark forms, and shadows, and false coverings^
which he had been under; chargiAg him, in the
presence of God, not to give way to Uie men of the
world, to make laws over the consciences of his ser-
vants, and to beware of hearkening to evil counsel-
lors, that would make a prey upon the people for
their own ends, lest he brought guilt, plagues, and
woe upon himself.''

Ambrose Kigge thus bears testimony to the useful-
ness and worth of M. Fell, at this time, in the
church : —

^Binscombey in Surry, 9th mo, (11th mo,), 1659.

Dear Sisteb —

Often art thou in my remembrance, in my labour
and travel in the vineyard of the Lord, which is
grown sweet and pleasant to walk in, to the praise of
God. I received thy Hues in Hampshire, when I
was in much weakness of body, by which I was much
strengthened and refreshed ; and truly, dear sister, I
hope in the Lord, through His strength, we shall be
clear of all; but our trials are many, especially
among false brethren, which as for the particulars at
present I shall not commit to paper. Oh ! dear sis-
ter, if it were not the living power of God, it could
never abide all the blows that oome against it; but

MARGARET FOX. 21

in all this we faint not^ but can truly say^ our
strength is renewed every morning — glory to God
on high.

My love is dear to thee, beyond what can be com-
mitted to paper^ for the truth's sake, and thy care
over the flock of God ; for which Gtod will thee re-
ward. So; with my dear love to all thy dear chil-
dren and servants in the truth, I remain

Thy dear bioiher in the labour of the Gh)spel,

Ambrose Biqqe.''

In the year 1660, George Fox was apprehended
at her house, and committed to Lancaster prison.
Gough, the historian, relates, that <' Margaret Fell
considering the forcible entry and searching of her
house, and arresting of her guest there, as a viola-
tion of the liberty of the subject, and an injury
offered to her, published the following brief narrative
of his apprehension : "

^' To all magistrates, concerning the wrong taking up
and imprisoning George Fox at Lancaster :

I do inform the governors of this nation, that
Henry Porter, Mayor of Lancaster, sent a warrant
with four constables to my house, for which he had
no authority nor order. They searched my house,
and apprehended George Fox in it, who was not
guilty of the breach of any law, or of any offence
against any in the nation. And they had him taken
before the said Henry Porter, there was bail offered,
what he would demand for his appearance, to anfi<K^e.

vhat could be laid to hi a charge : but be (contrary
to kw, if he had taken bim lawfully) denied to
accept of any bail, and clapt bim up in close prison.
After he waa in prison a copy of the mittimus was
demanded, and fvhicb ought not to be denied to any
prisotier, that 80 be may aec what ia laid to bis
cbarge; but it was denied bim, a copy he eould not
hare, only tbey were suffered to read it over, and
every thing there charged against him waa utterly
false; ho was not guilty of any one charge in it, as
will be proved, and manifested te the nation. So let
the gOTemora oonsider it. I am eoncemed in this
thing, inoamnob as he was apprehended in my
house [ and if he be guilty, I am so too. So I de-
sire to have this searched out,

Maboaket Fell."

She farther determined on a journey to London,
to solicit the Ring's protection, and lay the eircmu-
stancea of George Fox's imprisonment before him.

Her narrative proceeds : " In the year 1660, King
Charles the Second cam* into England, and within
two weeks after, I waa njoved of the Lord to go to
London, to apeak to the King concerning the trnth,
and the sufferers for it, for there wore then many
hundreds of our Friends in prison in the three nations
of England, Scotland and Ireland, which were put
in by former powers. E spake often to the King,
and wrote many papers and letters unto him, and
many hooks were given by our Friends to the Farll^
ment, and great service was done at that tjme.

MARGARET FOX. 23

they were fully informed of our peaceable principles
and practices. I staid in London at that time ohb
year and three months^ doing service for the Lord,
in visiting Friends' meetings, and giving papers and
letters to the King and council, whenever there was
occasion. And I wrote and gave papers and letters
to every one of the family several times, viz., to the
King, to the Dukes of York and Gloucester, and to
the Queen mother, to the Princess of Orange, and to
ihe Queen of Bohemia. I was moved of the Lord
to visit them all, and to write unto them, and did
give them many books and papers, and did lay our
principles and doctrines before them, and desired
that they let us have discourse with their priests,
preachers and teachers, and if they could prove us
erroneous, then let them manifest it; but if our prin-
ciples and doctrines be found according to the doc-
trine of Christ and the Apostles and saints in primi-
tive times, then let us have our liberty. But we
could never get any of them to meet with our
Friends. Nevertheless they were very quiet, and we
had great liberty, and had our meetings very peace-
ably for the first half year after the King came in,
until the Fi^ Monarchy men raised an insurrection
and tumult in the city of London, and then all our
meetings were disturbed, and Friends taken up;
which if ihey had not been, we were informed the
Eang had intended to have given us liberty. For
at that very time, there was an order signed by the
King and council for the Quakers' liberty, and just
when it should have gone to the press, the Fifth

UFB or

Monarcbj men* oioee, nod then oar Friends were

very hardly used, and taken up at tlieir meetings
generally, even until many prisons tJirougliout the
nation were filled with them. Many a time did
I go to the King about them, who promised me
always that they should he set at liberty; we
had several in the council friendly to ua, and we
gave many papers to them ; and with much ado, and
attendaooe at that time, about a quarter of a year
after their first taking Friends to prison, a general
proclamation from the King and council was granted,
for setting the Quakers at liberty. Then I had free-
dom in spirit to return home to visit my children
and family."

By the solicitations of M. Felt and Anne Curtis
(whose father had suffered death for cndcavDuriag
to bring in the King), they obtained, at this
time, an order for the removal of Gt. Fox to Lon-
don ; be was brought up by habeas corpus, before

• "Their leiiJer was Thomas Vennor, a wiuo cooper,
who. m hia little conveaticle in Culotnan etreel. warmeiJ hia
adtnirers with pusionato cxpcctntions of a fifth universal
monarchy, under tha personal reign of King Jraai upon
HTtb, and that the saints were to take the kingdom to
theiDBeWes. To iutrodace this imaginary kingdom, \hej
marchecl ont of their meeting-house towards St. Faoi's
churchward, on Sundaj, Jnauary C, 1661, to tlia number of
about Eft; men, well armed, with a resolution to subvert
the preient goTemment, or die in the attempt. Thia mad
iuurrection ^ve the court n hnndlo for breaking throng
the late deolaration of indulgence, ni ~

after it was pablisbed." — IftaU.

MABQABET TOX. 25

the court of the King's bench; whence the matter
was referred to the King and council. No accuser
appearing, to criminate him, he was honourably dis-
charged, after an imprisonment of twenty weeks.

In Margaret Fell's letters to King Charles the
Second, and the Dukes of York and Gloucester, soon
after their return to the kingdom, she "affectionately
warns them in the sight of the Lord, the heart-
searcher, not to slight the tenders of His love, lest
they should be hardened ; wishing them to consider
the goodness of the Lord in their several preserva-
tions, and restoration out of their troubles, into the
desired nation, throne and kingdom of their father,
and not to take the glory and honour unto them-
selves ; but to let the Lord have the glory thereof,
who restored them without the shedding of blood, or
loss of lives. Acquainting them, how that God had
a suffering people in the nation, which he hath
owned, and will own, and reproved and overthrown
powers for their sakes whom he has blessed. Signi-
fying, also, that God had brought the King to the
throne to try him, what he and they would do for
His people, desiring them not to forget His benefits
and mercies towards them, and that their hands
might be kept out of blood and persecution ; for when
the innocent were wronged and persecuted, God will
plead for and stand by them,^' &c. Intimating " she
Was moved of the Lord to write to them beforehand,
that they might not be found actors against God and
his people } also warning them to take heed whom
they let come near them, lest they should be betrayed
3

LIFE or

ty dissemblers, or malicious and temporizing spirits
who have turned with every power for their own
ends."

In her second letter to the King, she desires that
lie would " Take care for the nation aa for hia own
fmuily, that every one might enjoy hia particular
right and property, and liberty of conscience ; seeing
God is delivering Hia people from under oppresaorB,
that they may serve Him in frceness of spirit who
huth heard the eiy of the opprossed, and Hia ears
are open to the prayers of the innocent. And that,
therefore, it would be good for the King, that hia
ears should not be shut, lest his heart should grow
bard, that he should not slight what they say unto
him, who have a testifflony for tho Iiord, and He
will bear them witness, when He comes to make in-
quisition for blood."

In her third letter to the King, delivered by her
own hands, on account of hia proclamation for bring-
ing to trial those who had been instrumental in the
death of his father, she eays : " Since God brought
htm into this nation in love and mercy without shed-
ding of blood, or revengings, she wishes that he
would consider this and show mercy; seeing the
Lord saith to the merciful, I will show myself merci-
{vH, but to the froward I will show myself froward.
Advising him not to look out at those that would in-
cense him to revenge, which is not the will of Qod,
nor good for the King, whose best way is to show
mercy and forgivenesB, and cfiiomit his oanae to the
God of heaven; and let his heart be inoUocd unto

MABQARET FOX. 27

love and mercy, and to grant liberty to tlie tender
consciences of the people; where God's throne is,
there no plots, or evil intentions, or secret conspira-
cies should ever prevail against him," &c. &c.

The following letter she addressed to the King
upon the death of the Duke of Gloucester :

" The Lord is come very near thee. Oh I that
thou wouldst consider it, and see His hand, that
thereby thou ma3rst learn righteousness, and do
justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord,
that so thy throne may be established; and that
thou wouldst see the Lord testifying, that He doth
not love pride, vanity and vain glory; that now, in the
very time of your joy, he hath turned it into mourn-
ing. The God of power give you to understand His
will and mind, that thou mayst make Him thy joy,
who hath the life and breath of all men in His
hand."

During her sojourn in London, she paid a visit to
Col. Hacker, a day or two before his execution, he
being one of the judges of King Charles the First,
and now condemned for the part he took in that
transaction ; he also having been a very violent per-
secutor of George Fox a few years before. She re-
minded him of what he had formerly done against
the innocent; he remembered it, and said he knew
well to whom she alluded, and had trouble on him
for it.

It is related of her, that '^as a tender mother,

28 LIFE or

being sensible of the esereise and trial of her dear
children, for her long absence from them, and
&mi1y, she wrote many tender and consolatory letters
to them for their encouragement in the truth, and
Batiefaction in the Lord on her behalf; excusing her
long absence, as being so deeply engaged in His fear
to clear her conacieneej and for Hia suffering people's
sake. Intimating to them how desirable it would bo
to her to return home to her dear and beloved chil-
dren, ao soon as the Lord pleased to clear her from
her long and laborious attending, on behali' of Hia
oppressed people."

The following appears to be one of the letters
alluded to: —

"Lo>ulon, 25tJt o/Slh mo. (IQth mo.) IGGO.

My dearly beloved lambs and babes — My love is
to you all ; and my prayer to the Lord ia for you all,
that in Hia arm and power you may be kept in the
bosom of Hia love, there to be nursed and cheriahed
up to eternal life.

G. F. is now freed, blesaed bo the Lord God —
whose arm and power alone hath done it — after ha
hod appeared before the judge who ecnt for him ;
then be appeared before the Lord Chief Justice of
England in hia chamber; and the next day he ap-
peared before them all in open court, in the King's
bench; and all this ait«r the King had granted
an order to set him free ; but thoy would not eet
him free till he had appeared in all these places, to

MABQARET FOX. 29

Bee if any thing would come against him. It was of
great service for the truth.

I cannot write at present punctually the time of
my return, for I do feel that I am not yet tlear of
this place ; but do still wait for the Lord's will and
pleasure, and in his time to be manifested to me;
and may you rest satisfied in that, for there is ever-
lasting peace, and there you will enjoy me. I do not
know how suddenly the Lord may give me my free-
dom to come home ; but when it is, I shall embrace
it lovingly. Let me hear of the little ones, how it is
with them all (you mention little of them when you
write) ; and my desire is to hear of you all, and of
your well being in the Lord. It may be that you
have heard ere this, that James Naylor hath finished
his natural life, and hath laid down this body of
earth about three-score miles off London.

So no more, but my love in the Lord Jesus is with
you ; and as soon as the Lord gives me leave, I shall
return. The eternal arm of the Almighty be with
you. M. F.''

'^ I staid at home about nine months, and then was
moved of the Lord to go to London again, not knowing
what might be the matter or business that I should
go for. At Warrington, I met with an act of Parlia>
ment made against the Quakers for retoing oaths.
And when I came to London, 1 heard the King had
gone to meet the Queen, and to be married to her at
Hampton Court. At this time Friends' meetings at
London were much troubled with soldiers, pulling
3*

Frieods out of their meetiDge, and beating tbem with
tbeir muskets and swords; insoniucb that sereral
were wounded and bruised by them ; and many were
cast iuta prison, through which luuuy lost their lives;
and all this being done to a peaceable people, only
for woTBhipping God, as they in conacienco were per-
Buaded. Then I hew the King and Puke of York at
Hampton Court, and I wrote several letters to them,
Bud therein gave them U> understand what desperate
and dangerous work there was in Iioadon; and how
the soldiers came in with lighted matches, and drawn
awords among Friends, when they were met in the
fear and dread of the Lord to worship Him; and if
they would not slop that cruel persecution, it was
very like that more innoeent blood would be shed,
and that would witness agaiast their actions, and lie
upon them, and the nation. And within some cer-
tain days after, they heat some Friends so cruelly at
the Bull and Mouth (meeting) that two died thereof.

The King told me that hit soldiers did not trouble
us, nor should they, and said the city soldiers were
not his, and they would do as they pleased with
them; and after a little time they were more mode-
rate, and the King promised me that he would set
those at liberty that were in prison; and when he
brought his Queen to London, he set them at liberty.

And then I came home again, when I had staid
■bout four months in and about London."

The lolbwing is the aubstajice of a letter written by
her and presented to King Charles the Second at Ilamp-
tos Court, upon tlie renewal of the persecution under

MABGARET FOX. 81

the law for '^ The preventing mischiefs and dangers
that may arise from certain persons called Quakers^
and others^ refusing to take lawful oaths : "

'King Charles — Often has the desire of my
heart been to God for thee, that thou mightest be
preserved out of persecuting the saints and people of
God, who hath been gracious and long suffering,
whilst moderation hath in some measure been kept
to tender consciences; and certainly that promise
that thou mad'st in true simplicity, as I do believe,
was then in thy heart, that thou wouldst give liberty to
tender consciences, I am assured it is upon record in
the sight of the Lord God ; and thou art bound unto
Him in thy conscience to perform. And therefore
is my heart affected with the danger that thou in-
currest; seeing merciless men are set to work to come
into the meetings of Gt)d's people, with swords, pis-
tols and muskets, as if it were against thieves or
open professed enemies. It is strongly on my heart
once more to give thee warning to take care of
these things, to take a little view of them betimes
before it is too late. You have made an act against
us, for what cause the Lord knows, we being harm-
less and innocent, and tender towards you, although
our sufferings have been great; but since you have
made a law, it is unreasonable you should exceed it
in severity. These things, with many more, are laid
upon me from the Lord to lay before thee, who hath
put power in thy hand to see righteousness and
equity acted in the kingdom; that you may not pro-

yoke the Lord is the desire of my heart, who bid a
true and fiiitliful lover of thy soul,"

The following beautiful letter was addressed to
her Id London by Francis Howgili, who subsequently
ended hia days in prisoa, for the testimony of the
truth: —

"Groyriffg, 29(A oflth mo. (Qlh mo.), 16C1. M
Deak Margabet — ^

Id Him, who haa become a place of broad riverS
and streams untu us, and the portion of our cup, and
the lot of our inheritance, do I mo^ dearly salute thee.

The former days are not forgotten by me, nor the
years past, when we were all made to drink of one
cup, and were baptized into the death and suffering
of Christ: and were mode to drink it willingly,
knowing it was our portion allotted unto ub of the
Lord, which we could not pass, but must drink
thereof. And though it waa irksome and grievouH
unto us, when our strength was but small, yet Grod,
oat of His infinite love and niercy, strengthened oa
to bear, and to suffer, and to deny that which hid
immortAlily and life from us. And He bore us up
in His arms, and made us to endure with patience
the sufferings and the death ; that so we might ob-
tain the resnrreetion of the dead : which indeed was
a blessed time; though for a. moment it seemed
grievous. But now, having obtained the resurreo-
tion of the dead, being baptized into the resurrection
and into the life, more blessedness is known, eTen
apiritual bleasinga, which God hath given us lo enjoy

MARaARET FOX.

in heavenly places in Clirist Jesns : that like as we
suffered one for another, and one with another, so we
might be made to rejoice one with another, and for
another, and in Him alone ; in whom all our fresh
springs are, and from whom our joy and gladness
and consolation spring. He hath opened the springs
of the great deep, and hath made life spring up,
whereby His little ones are refreshed, and the young
men strengthened, and the ancient and honourable
confirmed and established. Holy and revered be
His name forevermoro, who is exalting His glorious
moxmtain above the top of all the earth ; and making
Jerusalem the praise and glory and admiration of
the whole earth. And let me tell thee, I am no
more weary than the first day the sickle was put
into the harvest; when we went out sowing the
seed weeping and in tears: but seeing sheaves
brought home, and full loads into the bam, and
full draughts caught in the net, it hath made me
look beyond fainting — blessed be the Lord,

I am glad thou stayest so long in that city (Lon-
don), in which we have i^ad many a burden and
weary day: but that fruit^is brought forth unto
God, plenteously countervailV-aU, and makes me
forget travail. I have been northward in Northum-
berland, Bishoprick, and upon the east sea, and
back to York : truly the garden for the most part is
very pleasant, and gives a goodly smell, now when
the south wind blows upon it.

Dearly farewell in the holy coven^t of life,

Francis Howonx."

84 LIFE OF

CHAPTER m. 1662-1668.

raSf 0BM8 A SILIGIOUS VISIT IN 8BTXKAL COUNTIES — MBKTt
WITH GBOBOB TOX — THIIB ARBS8T AND IMPRISONMENT IH
LAN0A8TBB OASTLB — HER TBIAL — TESTIMONY AGAINST
BWBABINO — PBEMUNIBED, AND BEMANDED TO PBISON —
LBTTBB FBOM HEB DAUGBTEB — ^LE^EB TO HBB SON-IN-LAW
AND WIFE — INEFFECTUAL EFFOBTS TO OBTAIN HEB BELBASB

— THE HABDSHIPS AND PBIYATIONS OF HEB IMPBI80NMEKT

— BXPOSTULATOBT LBTTEB TO THE KINO — DESCBIPTION 01
LANOASTEB CASTLE — HEB BELBASB.

In the year 1663^ in company with one of her
daughters, she perfonned a religions journey of
about one thousand miles, visiting Friends in Somer-
setshire, Devonshire and Dorsetshire to Bristol, from
thence to Yorkshire, into Northumberland and West-
moreland. In the course of their travels they met
with George Fox, who accompanied them home, soon
after which he was arrested and committed to Lan-
caster castle.

She says : ''About a month after the same justices
sent for me to Ulverston, and when I came there
they asked me several questions, and seemed to be
offended at me for keeping a meeting at my house,
and said they would tender me the oath of allegiance.
I answered they knew I could not swear, and why
should they send for me from my own house, where I
was about my lawful occasions, to ensnare me ? What

MAROARET FOX. 86

had I done? They said if I would not keep meet*
ings at my honse^ they would not tender me the
oath. I told them I should not deny my faith and
principles for any thing they could do xmto me ; and
whilst it pleased the Lord to let me have a house, I
would endeavour to worship him in it. So they
caused the oath to be read, and tendered it unto me;
and I refused it, telling them, I could not take
any oath for conscience' sake, Christ Jesus having
forbid it. They then made a mittimus and commit-
ted me prisoner to Lancaster Castle, and there George
Fox and I remained in prison until the next assizes ;
and then they indicted us upon the statute for deny-
ing the oath of allegiance } for they tendered it to us
both again at the assizes ; but they said to me, if I
would not keep a meeting at my house, I should be
set at liberty. But I answered the judge that I
rather chose a prison for obeying Gk)d, than my
liberty for obeying men contrary to my conscience.
So we were called several times before them at that
assizes, and the indictments were found against us.
The next assizes we came to trial, and George Fox's
indictment was foimd to be dated wrong, both in the
day of the month, and in the year of the King's
reign, so that it was quashed ; but mine they would
not allow the errors that were foxmd in it to make it
void, although there were several; so they passed
the sentence of premxmire upon me, which was, that
I should be out of the King's protection, and forfeit
all my estate, real and personal, to the King, and be
imprisoned for life. But the great God of heaven

and earth so supported my spirit under this severe Hen*
t«nce, that I was not terriSed, but gave this answer
to Judge Turner, who guve this sentence, Although 1
am out of liie Eing's protection, yet I am. not out of
the protection of the Almightff God: so there I re-
mainetl in prison twenty months, before I could get
so much favour of the sherifT, as to go to uij own
house; which then I did for u little time, imd re-
turned ta prison again."

Whilst hefore the judges, she hore this clear and
noble testimony against swearing, and vindicated
herself from all cause of offence : —

" I am here this day upon the account of my con-
science, and not for any evil, or wrong done to any
man, but for obeying Christ's doctrine and com-
mands, who hath suid in the Scriptures : ' That God
is a spirit, and tliat Hie worship is in spirit and
truth :' and for keeping meetings in the unity of
this spirit. Now you profess yourselves to be Chris-
tians, and you own the Scriptures to be true ; and
for the obedience of the plain words of Scripture,
and for the testimony of my conscience, am I here.

I say this to the oath, as I have said in this
place before now, Christ Jesus has communded
me not U) swear at all; and that is the only
cause and no other; the righteous Judge of heaven
and earth knows, before whoso throne of jus-
tice yon must nil appcnr one day; and His eye
sees us all, and beholds us at this present time,
and hears and sees all onr words and actions: and
therefore every one ooglit to be serious; for the

MARQABET FOX. 87

place of judgment i8 weighty. And this I do testify
to you here, where the Lord's eye beholds us aU,
that for the matter or substance of the oath, and the
end for which it was intended, I do own one part
and deny the other. That is to say, I do own truth,
and faithfulness, and obedience to the King, in all
his just and lawful demands and commands. I do
also deny all plottings and contrivings against the
King, and all Popish supremacy, and conspiracy:
and I can no more transgress against King Charles
in these things, than I can disobey Christ Jesus'
commands. And by the same power, and by virtue
of the same word, which has commanded not to
swear at all, the same doth bind me in my conscience,
that I can neither plot nor contrive against the King,
nor do him nor any man upon the earth any wrong ;
and I do not deny this oath only, because it is the
oath of allegiance; but I deny it, because it is an
oath, and because Christ Jesus has said. Swear not
at aU, neither hy heaven^ nor hy earthy nor any other
oath; and if I might gain the whole world for swear-
ing of an oath, I could not ; and whatever I have to
lose this day, for not swearing, I am ready to oflfer
up."

One of the justices observed: "Mrs. Fell, you
may with a good conscience put in security to have
no more meetings at your house, if you cannot take
the oath.''

" Wilt thou make it good," said she, " that I may
with a safe conscience make an engagement to for-
bear meetings, for fear of losing my liberty and

4

38 LIFE OF

estate ? Wilt not thou and all here jndge me, that
it was for saving my estate and liberty that I did it ?
And should I not, in this, deny my testimony ; and
would not this defile my conscience ? "

Considerable effort was made by some of her
friends in London to prevent the sentence of premu-
nire being passed upon her, and some of her chil-
dren applied to the King in her behalf; but without
any effect. The following is a letter from one of her
daughters on the subject : —

^^Mile End Green, near London, 1
27th 4th mo,, 1664. )

Endeared and tender-hearted Mother: —

My duty and very dear love is freely given and
remembered unto thee, as also my very dear love is
to dear George Fox. This is chiefly to let thee
understand that yesterday sister and I went to White
Hall ; where we spoke to the King, and told him if
he would please to signify something to the judges^
before they went their circuit, to release you ; other-
wise it would be past, for the time drew very near of
the assizes. He said he would release you, if we
would promise you would not go to meetings. Sister
said we could make no such engagement; for the
meeting had been kept many years, and never had
done any harm. He said, cannot your mother keep
within her own family, as she may have five persons
present, but she must have such tumultuous meet-
ings? We said she hath no such meetings, they are

MARGARET rOX. 39

only her neighbors that come. The King said there
were some Quakers in the last plot. Sister said that
could not be proved. He said he had letters about
it, and their names. So Chifines* bid us come on
the fourth day ; and we intend to go to-morrow. I
was there about a week since, and told the King,
that now the assizes drew very near, if he did
not do something for thee, they would run thee into
a premunire, and get thy estate from thee and thy
children ; and I desired him to take it into considera-
tion. He was then very loving to me, and said he
would take it into consideration ; and he said, ^ they
shall not have her estate from her :' he took me by
the hand as soon as he came near me. I also spoke
to Prince Rupert, and desired him to put the King
in mind of it: and he said he would do what he
could in it ; and went then to the King and spoke to
him. Prince Rupert hath always been very loving
to Friends ; and hath often spoken to the King about
you.

Sister gives the renewed remembrance of her
entire love to thee ^ and dear G. F., as also doth my
brother; I suppose sisters Isabel and Sarah will be
gone : remember me to sisters Susanna and Rachel.

I am thy dutiful and obedient daughter,

Mary Fell."

The following letter, written by M. Fell, when in
prison, to her son-in-law, John Rouse, and his wife,

"^ One of the pages.

40 LIFE OF

after she had been premnnired^ shows, that having
been deeply tanght in the school of Christ, and
strengthened by Him, she had learned, like the
Apostle Paul, that in whatsoever state she found
herself, therewith to be content: —

^^Lancaster CastUj \st %th mo. (lO^A mo.), 1664.

^^As I have often said to thee, give up to be
crossed ; that is the way to please the Lord, and to
follow Him in His own will and way, whose way is
the. best. Let nothing enter thy mind concerning
anything about me, for I am well contented in the
work of the Lord. I know your care and tenderness
were not wanting to Friends ; and so be all satisfied
in the will of the Lord God. I hope in the Lord
that you are all together, ere this come to you. Be
all satisfied and content with the will of the Lord ;
and let neither murmuring nor repining enter any of
your minds ; and let not sorrow fill your hearts, for
we have all cause to rejoice in the Lord evermore,
and I most of all.

Colonel Kirby causes our bonds to be renewed
and straightened more and more : and they lock up
G. F. under pretence of an order that should come
from London. Get this enclosed letter of G. F.'s
sent to Gilbert Latey, that G. Whitehead and they
may draw out what they see convenient.

>LLRaARET Fell.*'

Some attempts were afterwards made to obtain her
release, or at least some mitigation of the rigours of

MARGARET FOX. ' 41

her imprisonment, but with no better success. Gil-
berty Latey, in one of his letters, giving an account
of an interview he had with Lord D' Aubigny on her
behalf, says : " That neither the King nor chancellor
would do anything at all for us. Neither could any
man be heard to speak for us. Then I told him of
the unjustness of thy imprisonment, and of the bad-
ness of the jury, and its being contrary to law, and
that thou desired nothing but a fair prison, and that
the thieves and murderers had more liberty than
thee, and that thou wast 'locked up in a bad room,
and Friends not suffered to come to speak to thee ;
and I told him I had a paper of it, and desired that
he would hand it. He told me he was sorry with all
his heart, but he would tell me no lie ; he was sure
nothing could be done, and he believed they did it
on purpose to vex us ; and so I parted with him ; for
he said he could do nothing, for all the clergy were
against us, and nothing could be done at all, neither
did he care to meddle with the paper at all ; so I
was fain to leave him."

Gough, the historian, remarks: "Such rigorous
imprisonment as these people, particularly George
Fox and Margaret Fell, were subject to, being in
smoky rooms, in such bad condition that the rain
came in upon them in abundance, was more than suf-
ficient punishment for petty criminals, and an evi-
dence of the unfeeling malice of their persecutors
needlessly to expose Margaret Fell in particular to
such hardships, a woman of estate, the widow of a

judge, and a man of consequence in the country, who
4*

42 LIFE OF

•

had been used to comfortable accommodations in her
own house, and was every way on a level with her
persecutors, except the possession of power. But all
the hardships she suffered, in being arbitrarily forced
firom her home and family, without cause or crimina-
tion, and hurried to this dismal jail, was not a suffi-
cient gratification of the groundless enmity of these
magistrates, until they went the farthest lengths
they could go, by prosecuting her to a premunire,
realizing the proverb, summum jaSy summa injuria :
the execution of perverted law is accumulated irvfury/'
She earnestly expostulated with the King, on the
injustice of the law authorizing the banishment of
Friends, reminding him of her" former interview with
him, and the rigours of her own imprisonment, in a
letter addressed to him ^^ from my prison at Lancas-
ter Castle, the 6th day of the 6th month, 1666,"
some extracts from which are here inserted :

"King Charles: —

I desire thee to read this over, which may be for
thy satisfaction and profit.

In the fear of the Lord Grod stand still, |nd con-
sider what thou and you have been doing these six
years, since the Lord brought you peaceably into
this realm, and made you rulers over this people.
The righteous eye of the Almighty hath been over
you, and hath seen all your doings and actions.

What laws have you made or changed, save such
as have laid oppression and bondage on the con-
sciences of Grod's people, and that of no less penalty

MARGARET FOX. 43

than hanishment out of their native country f The
greatest crime that you could find with the people of
God was, that they obeyed and worshipped Christ
Jesus : so that the greatest stroke that hath appeared
of your justice hath been upon such as you counted
offenders for worshipping of God, insomuch that
several of your judges of the land have several times
said, in open court, to any that did confess they met
to worship the Lord God, that that was crime enough,
whereby they could proceed to banishment. And
when it was asked in open court, whether it was now
become a transgression or a crime in England to wor-
ship God ? He that was then Chief Justice of Eng-
land answered : ' Yes, yes/ Oh ! wonderful, let this
be chronicled in England for after ages, that all
magistrates may dread and fear so to affront the
Almighty; except they dare say they are stronger
than he.

And all this hath been without any just cause
given at any time by that people, which was the ob-
ject of this law ; so that men, that had but the least
measure of righteousness and equity, could never
have prjceeded on to have inflicted such a height of
punishment, without some just ground.

And all that was ever pretended, was but suspi-
cion, which can never be paralleled; to be prose-
cuted to such a height of suffering without a just
ground given, although occasion hath been con-
tinually sought and watched for, but never found ;
but the Lord has preserved His ^o^V^ \s»i<2k^^\^ ^sss^
harmleaB; and therefore is "H.© €a^8i%<a^ \ft ^$^r»^

44 LIF-E OF

their cause, into whose hand it is wholly given and
committed.

Ideairo you also to consider seriously, in the fear
of the Lord, what effects and fruits these things have
brought forth.

I believe it hath brought hundreds of God'a
people to their graves; it hath also rendered this
realm, and the governors of it, cruel, in the eyes of
all people, both within its own body, and in other
nations; besides the guilt of innocent blood lies upon
this kingdom.

Since which time, the liord in His judgment hath
taken niany thousands of ite people away by His two
judgments, pestilence and sword.

And before any of this was, when you first entered
into this kingdom, I was sent of the Lord to you, to
inform you truly of the state and condition of our
people; and when I came before thee, King, I
told thee I was come to thee on behalf of un inno-
cent, harmless, peaceable people ; which words I
would then, and ever since, and should at this day
seal with my blood, if I were put to it. And thy
answer waa to mc, if Ihey be peacealk Oici/ ihull b.
protected.

I also wrote to thee several times conceming Q
faith and principles, how that we could not swear II
conscience' sake ; neither could we take up a
nor plot, nor contrive to do any man wrong t
injury, much less the King. I olao told yoi
we must worship God, for God required it of na. ^

We did likewise give you many of our 1

MABQARET \EOX. 45

whicli contained our faith, and principles and doc-
trine, that thereby we might be tried by the Scrip-
tures of Truth (which all of you do profess), whether
our principles were erroneous or no ; and to that pur-
pose we gave our books to the King and Parliament,
and to the bishops and ministers, both ecclesiastical
and civil. All this, with much more, I wrote to
thee, and warned thee of (I can truly say in the fear
of the Lord), in much love and tenderness to thee.
And now I may say unto thee, for which of these
things hast thou kept me in prison three long win-
ters, in a place not fit for people to lie in ; sometimes
for wind, and storm, and rain, and sometimes for
smoke ; so that it is much that I am alive, but that
the power and goodness of God hath been with me.
I was kept a year and seven months in this prison,
before I was suffered to see the house that was mine,
or children or family, except they came to me over
two dangerous sands in the cold winter, when they
came with much danger of their lives ; but since the
last assizes I have had a little more respect from this
sheriff, than formerly from others. And in all this I
am very well satisfied; and praise the Lord, who
counts me worthy to suffer for His sake.

And now after all my sufferings, in the same love
that I visited thee in the beginning, I desire thee
once more to fear the Lord God, hy whom Kings
ruUy and Princes decree justice ; who sets up one, and
pvMs down another, at His pleasure.

And let not the guilt of the burthen. oC ^XvbXst^^^
of that word that passed from ftie^ «Ai1itft^,>^'^^o2^^

4fi LlfB OF ^^^^^1

thy conscience, bat aa thou promised when thoawast
in diBtrcBt, and also renewed it many times since,
that thou wouldst give liberty to tender conscienues;
in the fear of the Lord perform it, and purge thy
conscience of itj and hearken not to wicked counsel-
lors, tliat have stopped it in thee all this time ; for
they will bear none of thy burden for thee, when the
Lord pleads for breach of covenant with Ilim and
Hifl people; I know it hatb been often in thy heart
to perform it, and thou bast seen what fruit the want
of it hath brought forth. So if thou loTost thy eter-
nal peace and comfort with the Lord, try what the
performance of Jt will bring forth, thou wilt thereby
Bee thou hast hearkened to wrong couneellors. And
every mortal man hath but a moment in this life,
either to servo, fear and honour the Lord, and therein
to receive mercy from Ilim; or else to transgress,
Un, disobey, and dishonour Uim, and receive the
judgment of eternal misery.

So none of you know how long, or how abort your
day may be ; therefore fear not man, that can kill
the body ; but fear the Lord, who, when ho hath
killed the body, can ca^t the aoul and body into hell;
yea, I Bay unto you fear Him.

From a true lover of all your souls (though a aaf-
ferer by you), and the desire of my heart is, that you
may take these things into consideration betime, be-
fore it be too lute, and set open the prison doors, aoA
let the innocent go free, and that will take part of
the burden and guilt off you, lest the door of n
be shut against you."

ioor ot mera^H

MARGARET EOX. 47

Lancaster Castle^ tlie prison of Margaret Fell; in
its present form, was founded by John of Gaunt,
Duke of Lancaster, in the 14th century. This castle
and its predecessor have been noted strongholds, fa-
mous in British history from the time of the Eomans
to the days of Cromwell and the Pretender. A recent
writer thus describes the castle, and the room occu-
pied by George Fox : " He who penetrates within the
enclosure of the castle will wonder at the kind of life
which kings and princes must have led in the days
of its erection. Here are the same rooms of John of
G^unt, visited sometimes by his father, Edward the
Third — small, stately, strong apartments, having few
windows in the exterior, and these narrowed to the
smallest possible dimensions — well fitted to serve as
the prisons they have since become. Fox's room was
in the donjon, and the window of what was his resi-
dence during many long, dreary months is conspicu-
ous over the greater part of the ancient town. It was
evidently, at one period, a room of considerable size,
but ill Fox's day it was old and ruinous. He could
scarcely walk across his apartment, because of the
dilapidated state of the floor. The smoke that came
firom the other prisons was so dense, that sometimes
a burning candle was scarcely visible, and he was in
imminent danger of being choked ; and the turnkey
was with difficulty persuaded to unlock one of the
upper doors, in order to let out the smoke. In wet
weather it rained upon his bed. The inconveniences
of his prison affected Fox to sucb. «t ^^^^^, ^^5x\\^%'^
cold and prolonged winter, ttiat loia \i0^i \i^^«xa&

48 LIFE OF

swollen, and his limbs benumbed. When he was
brought up at the March assizes, 1665, he was so
weak that he could scarcely stand or move."

"Nor were Fox's friends in this neighbourhood
allowed to escape. Many of his followers, and amongst
them Margaret Fell, at whose house he had been ap-
prehended, were also confined in the castle, where an
apartment exists, still called the Quaker^ s room, be-
oause it was the scene of the sufferings of many of
these oppressed and unresisting Christians.'' *

Haying endured an imprisonment of about four
years, M. Fell was at length set at liberty by an order
of the King and coimcil, in the year 1668.

''*' At one time there were 4500 Friends in prison in Eng-
land and Wales. In 1662, 20 died in different prisons in
London, and 7 more after their liberation, from ill treat-
ment. In 1664, 26 died; and in 1666, 52 more. The num-
ber that perished in this way throughout the whole kingdom
amounted to 369. For a fiUl account of the cruelties prac-
tised against the early Friends, the reader is referred to two
folio volumes entitled **jBe99e*9 Suffmngi"

MABQABET POX. 19

CHAPTER IV. 1668-1690.

VISITS IMPRISONED FRIENDS — HER MARRIAGE WITH GEORGE

FOX AT BRISTOL AGAIN IMPRISONED ON THE OLD PREMU-

NIRE — HER HUSBAND AND TWO OF HER CHILDREN OBTAIN
AN ORDER FOR HER DISCHARGE ' — WHICH IS DISREGARDED
— SHE OBTAINS A FREE DISCHARGE UNDER THE GREAT SEAL,
RELEASING HER AND HER ESTATE FROM THE PREMUNIRE —
VISITS LONDON TO TAKE LEAVE OF HER HUSBAND, WHO GOES
TO AMERICA — HIS RETURN, AND IMPRISONMENT IN WOR-
CESTER JAIL — HE IS PREMUNIRED — HER EFFORTS IN HIS
BEHALF — HIS RELEASE, AND RETURN TO 8WARTHM0RE —
LETTER TO THOMAS LOWER — RETURNS TO LONDON — ^VISITS

THE KING — HIS DEATH INTERVIEW WITH KINO JAMES —

FRESH IMPRISONMENT — EPISTLE TO WOMEN FRIENDS OF
LONDON.

»

Shortly after her release, "she was moved of
the Lord" to make an extended journey through
many of the coimties of England, visiting most of
the Friends that were imprisoned in the nation, and
spending a number of weeks in London and Bristol.

It was on her return from this visit that she again
met with George Fox, and remarks :

" It was eleven years after my former husband's
decease ; and G. Fox being then returned from visit-
ing Friends in Ireland; at Bristol he declared his
intentions of marriage with me ; and there was also
our marriage solemnized, in a public meeting of
many Friends, who were o\vx 'm\.\i^"Sieft»«^
5

50 Lirfi OF

George Fox, in his journal, givea the followiDg re-
lation of his marriage. Before proceeding therein he
waa careful that the rights of her children should
not suffer, and had their free consent, for, said ho,
" I would have all things done plainly, for 1 sought |
not any advantage to myself."*

"I hud seen from tiio Lord a considerable t
before, that I should take Margaret Fell to he m^. |
wife ; and vrhen I first ni«ntioaed it to her, she felt
the answer of life from God thereunto. But thougb
tlio Lord had opened this thing to me, yet I had not I
received a command from Him for the accomplishingf J
of it then. Wherefore I let the thing rest, and went I
on in the work and service of the Lord, according utf
he led me; travelling in this nation and Irelaadyl
But now being at Bristol, and finding ^Margaret FeQ, J
there, it opened in me from the I^ord that the thiagtl
should be accomplished.. And so our intention of J
marriage was kid before Friends, both privately and^

* In conGrmutioD of this, and gbowing the Justiee and
ConBcisationBncss that characterized George Fox, in regird
U property, and of his opiniaiia being in adinnce of thoie
then prevailing on the subject, the following circumstanea,
rolatod in hie jouroal, will eerve to illustrate. Being pro-
secuted for titbea against hia wife's eatato at Swartlt-
more, he and William Jlaad, her aon-in-liw, nppenred be-
fore the court, "when," ho eays, "Willinm Mend told tha
judges that I had engaged never to meddle with niy wife's
estate. The judges would hardly believe that nay man
would do so ; whereapoD he aliawed them the writing undo'
nifhand and seal ; at which lioy wondered." — Fui'i Jant-
Mt, TOL li. p. 802.

J

MARQABET FOX. 51

publicly, to their full satisfaction, many of whom
gave testimony that it was of God. Afterwards a
meeting being appointed on purpose for the accom-
plishing thereof, in the public meeting-house . at
Broad Mead, in Bristol, we took each other in mar-
riage ; and the Lord joined us together in honour-
able marriage, in the everlasting covenant and im-
mortal Seed of life."*

* The following is a copy of her marriage certificate : —
<* These are to signify unto all whom this may concern
that on the eighteenth day of the eighth month in the year
one thonsand, six hundred sixty nine, George Fox and Mar-
garett ffell propounded their intentions of joininge together
in the honourable marriage, in the covenant of God in Mens
meetinge, at Broadmead, within the Citty of Bristoll (hav-
ing before made mention of such their intentions to several
firiends,) on the behalf of which there were several testimo-
nies given, both by the children and relations of the said
Margarett, then present, and several others, in the power
of the Lord, both of men and women, declaring their satis-
faction, and approbation of their declared intention of mar-
riage. And likewise at another meetinge both of men and
women, at the place aforesaide, on the twenty first day of the
month and year aforesaide, the said George Fox and Mar-
garett ffell did againe publish their intention of joininge to-
gether in the honourable marriage in the covenant of God,
unto which, there were againe many livinge testimonies
borne by the relations and ffriends then present, both of
Men and Women. And the same intentions of Marriage
beinge againe published by Dennis HoUister at our public
meetinge-place aforesaide, on the two and twentyeth day of
the month and year aforesaide, and then againe, a public
testimony was given to the samo, thAl \\>^^<e^^l^^^^^^^
hftd brought it to passe.

62 LIFE OV

Her narratiye proceeds : ^' Soon after I came home,
there came another order to cast me into prison
again ; and the sheriff of Lancashire sent his bailiff,
an<) pulled me ont of my own house, and had me to
prison at Lancaster Castle, where I continued a whole
year; and most of that time I was sick and weakly.
And after some time my husband endeavoured to get

And for the fall accomplishment of the aforesaide propo-
sal, and approved intention, at a pablicke meetinge both of
men and women ffriends, appointed on purpose for the same
thinge, at the place aforesaide, and on the twenty seTentii
day of the month and year aforesaide, according to the law
and ordinance of God, and the example and good order of
His people, mentioned in the Scriptures of Thith, who tooke
each other before witnesses, and the Elders of the people,
as Laban appointed a meetinge, at the marriage of Jacob,
and as a meetinge was appointed on purpose, when Boas
and Rath tooke each other, and also as it was iu Canaan,
where Christ and his disciples went to a marriage. The
8ude George Fox did solemnly, in the presence of God, and
us his people, declare that he tooke the saide Margaret!
ffell in the CTerlasting power and ooTenent of God which is
from cTerlasting to eyerlasting, and in the honourable mar-
riage, to be his bride, and his wife. And likewise the aaidt
llargarett did solemnly declare that, in the eyerlastinge
power of the mighty God, and in the unalterable word, and
in the presence of God, His Angell^ and his holy assembly,
the tooke the saide George Fox to be her husband, onto
which marriage, many liTinge testimonies were borne in the
stnoe of the power and presence of the liTinge God, maul*
fasted in the said assembly ; of which, we, whose names are
hare subscribed are witnesses.

Signed by 02 men and women Friends." — Friendi JU-
f, rol I p. 270.

MARGABET FOX. 53

me out of prison ; and a discharge at last yraa got^
under the great seal, and I was set at liberty/'

This imprisonment was upon the old premunire,
from which she had been discharged the year before.
As soon as George Fox reached London after hear-
ing of her fresh incarceration, he sent Mary Lower
and Sarah Fell (her children) to the King, to strive
to obtain an order for her discharge, which with
some difficulty was procured. They carried it to Lan-
caster, together with the following letter from Q-.
Fox: —

" My dear heart in the truth and life, that
changeth not: —

It was upon me that Mary Lower and Sarah
should go to the Bang concerning thy imprison-
ment; and to Kirby, that the power of the Lord
might appear over them all in thy deliverance. They
went; and then they thought to have come down;
but it was upon me to stay them a little longer, that
they might follow the business till it was effected,
which it now is and is here sent. The late declara-
tion of mine has been very serviceable, people being
generally satisfied with it.

So no more but my love in the Holy Seed,

George Fox.'*

This second intimation of the King's will and
pleasure respecting her, was presented to the sheriff
by her two daughters; but her old enemies found

5*

64 IiIFB ov

means, by some informality in the document, to
evade even this command.

Her husband therefore renewed his solicitations
for her release; which was at length effected by
means of Martha Fisher and another female Friend,
who obtained a second interview with the King, and
informed him of all their difficulties. The King then
granted a free discharge under the great seal, and
released both her, and her estate from the penalties
of the sentence of premunire, imder which she had
been suffering for more than five years.

The condescending interference of King Charles,
in behalf of Margaret Fox shows, that he was averse
to these violent measures against his peaceable non-
conforming subjects, and that he would probably have
adhered to his proclamation from Breda, promising
religious toleration, had he not been driven by his
necessities, and extravagance, to concede these arbi-
trary measures to the high church party, for the
sake of obtaining supplies.

She wont up to London soon ailer, to take leave
of her husband, then about embarking for America.
He was absent two years ; she again met him, on his
return, at Bristol, whence they proceeded to Lon-
don, and staid there some time, when they took
leave of their friends, and proceeded homewards, in
company with her daughter Eachel, stopping at
Bickmansworth, on a visit to William Penn and his
family, where they were joined by her son-in-law,
Thomas Lower. Upon leaving Bickmansworth, they
continued their journey through Oxfordshire, visiting

MARGARET FOX. 66

Friends' meetings as they proceeded, and at Treding-
ton, in Worcestshire, they attended a meeting of
• about two hundred persons, held in a bam; the meet-
ing having quietly dispersed, and they having retired
into the house of John Halford, George Fox and
Thomas Lower were arrested and conmiitted to Wor-
cester jail : G-. Fox being afterwards premunired by
the court there, and continued in confinement, she
went to him, and had a conference .with the judges,
and also with the King, endeavouring to obtain his
release. The case was subsequently removed by
habeas corpus to the King's bench bar, where Judge
Hale pronounced the indictment illegal and void, and
he was discharged. They returned together to
Swarthmore, he being much weakened in body, his
health having suffered severely in consequence of his
long imprisonment. He continued at home about
one and twenty months, before he was sufficiently rd^
covered to resume his travels, being the longest pe-
riod he remained with his wife since their mar-
riage.

Persecution and distraints still continued, whereby
Friends were much distressed and impoverished.
She says, in speaking of the difficulties they encoun-
tered in these respects: —

"When my husband was at London, it being a
time of great persecution by informers, the justices
of our country were very severe, and much bent
against me, because I kept a meeting at Swarthmore
Hall } so they did not fine the house as his, he being
absent, but as mine; and fined me £20 for the

56 LIFE OF

house^ and £20 for speaking in the meeting; and
the second time £40 for speaking; and also other
Friends for speaking, £20 for the first, and £40 for
the second time : those that were not able, they fined
others for them, and made great spoil among Friends,
by distraining their goods, sometimes for less than
half the value ; they took thirty head of cattle from
me. Their intentions were to ruin and weary us
out, and enrich themselves ; but the Lord prevented
them."

Her son-in-law, Thomas Lower, being premunired
and imprisoned, she wrote him the subjoined com-
^^rting letter. He was "a physician of London,"
says Besse, " and visiting George Fox when he was
imprisoned in Cornwall, asked him many questions
concerning religion, and received such clear answers
from G. Fox, that he said ' his words were as a flash
of lightning, they ran so through him,' adding, < he
had never met with a man of such wisdom and pene-
tration in his life.' By these means he became frdly
convinced of the doctrine of truth, which he after*
wards made a public profession of" He subse-
quently married Mary Fell.

'' To Thomas Lower and his fellow-sufferers for the
testimony of Jesus, when they were premunired,
and prisoners in Lauceston Jail : —

Dear Son Lower: —

In the dear and precious blessed unity of the
eternal Spirit, and fellowship of the gospel of peace,
in this is my heart and soul's love remembered onto

MARGARET FOX. 57

thee, and to all thy dear brethren and fellow-prisoners
•with thee, that suffer for the testimony of Jesus ; my
soul's desire is to the powerftd God for you all, that
you may be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus,
who is the great King, and Lord oyer all, and hath
all power in heaven and earth in His hands, and all
the inhabitants of the earth are but as grasshoppers
' before Him; and therefore with hearts and courage
may His servants and children suffer for Him, with-
out fear or fainting, under those that have but pow^r
over the outward man. The Lord preserve you in
the dominion over them all ; and I am glad to hear
in every letter that comes ^m thee, that ye are well
satisfied and content. And I know certainly, the
Lord will never be wanting to you, as ye keep faith-
ful and true, and single-hearted to Him; His eye
beholds and sees all that His and your enemies can
do unto you, and a just and righteous reward from
Him they will surely receive.

And my dear love is unto thee, in that which
never changes, which gives peace, and content, and
&ith to look over that which changes.

Thy dear mother in the liord,

M. Fox.

JSwarthmore, 2Sth of 7th mo., 1683."

" I was moved of the Lord to go to London, in the
seventieth year of my age ; and the word was in me,
that as I had gone to King Charles, when he first
came into England, so I should go, and bear to him
my last testimony, and let him know how they did

abuse as, to enrich themselves : a. paper yraa drsiVii
up, to give a true and certain account how they dealt
with me, and other Friends. It was upon my mind,
to go first unb) the Duke of York; and I wrote a,
short paper to him, to acquaint hini, that as he had
sometimes formerly spoke in my behalf to the King,
my request was, that he would now do tho like for
me, or words to that effect. I went with this paper
to James' house ; and af^er long waiting, I got to
Bpeak t« him. But some let him know, that it was I
that had been with him and his brother, soon after
they cume into England. I gave him my little paper,
and asked him if he did not remember me? He
said, / do remcmher yoii. Then I desired him to
Bpeak to the King for us, for we were under great
sufferings, and our persocutors were ho severe, that
it looked as if they intended to make a prey upon
us; he said he could not help, but he would npcak
to the King. The next day, with much ado, I got
to tho King, and had my great paper, which whs the
relation of our sufferings, to present to him; but he
was BO rough and angry, that he would not take it;
but I guve several copies to his nobles. Afterwards
I went to Judge Jeffreys, and told him of our suffer-
ings; for he had been in the North country with us,
ci little before, and he told mo wo might speak to the
King. I answered it waa very hard to pet to the
King; he aatd, '^ve nic a paper, and I will speak
to him;' but said, 'your papers are too long, j^ve
me a short one, and I will speak to him :' bo I n
ft little paper from.myself, to this effect ; —

:' BO Iinote^H

MARGARET FOX. 59

King Charles: — Thon and thy magistrates put
veiy great and cruel sufferings upon us ; but this I
must say unto thee^ if you make our sufferings to
death itself, we shall not, nor dare not, but confess
Christ Jesus before men, lest He should deny us l)e-
fore His Father which is in heaven."

" There were some more words, but this was the
substance : Jeffreys read it, and said he would give it
him ; we gave papers to several of those that waited
on him, and they gave us some encouragement, that
we should be helped ; so we expected and waited for
it. About a week or two after, in the beginning of
the 12th month, George Whitehead and I were going
to one of the lords, who had promised Gkorge that
he would speak to the Eang for us : we went to his
lodgings early in the morning, thinking to speak
with him b^ore he went out; but his servants told
us he was not within, being gone to the King, who
was not well. Then we came forth into Whitehall
court; but all the gates were shut, that we could not
get forth. So we waited, and walked up and down ;
and several came ^m the Eling, and said, he could not
stand; others said, he could not speak. Then, after
some hours waiting, we got through Scotland-yard,
and came away; the King continued sick until the
sixth day after, and then he died. So this confirmed
that word which God put into my heart, tha^ I was
sent to hear my last testimony to the King"

<^Then Japes, Duke of York; was proclaimed

60 LIFE OF

King, and about two weeks after^ I went to him^ and
gave him a paper to this effect : —

King James ^^ I have waited here some months j
v/rUU this change is coTne^ afid now I would return
home; hut I cannot live peaceahly there, except I have
a word from thee, to give a check to my persecutors.
•

I spoke to him to the same purpose. He said
unto me^ go horns, go horns. So after a few weeks I
went home.

And a little while afber^ William Earby, a justice,
one of our greatest persecutors, met with my son-in-
law, Daniel Abraham, upon the road, and said to
him, tell your mother that now the government will
be settled again, and if you keep meetings, you must
expect the same again. My son answered him, we
must keep meetings, unless you take our lives. Then
William Kirby said, we will not take your lives, but
whilst you have anything, we will take it. So I
wrote a letter to King James, in which I said. Thou
bids't me come home, and so I am ; but as I said to
thee, I could not live peaceably, so it is like to be ;
and then I hinted in my letter W. Kirby's discoune
with my son. And I desired of the King, to let me
have something from him, that I might live peace-
ably at my house.

This letter was delivered to him, and as I heazdi
he carried it to the council, and it was read ; and
some of the council said, she desires a proteotioni
that she may live peaceably at her own house ; and

MARGARET FOX. 61

that some made answer, they oonld give no protec-
tion to an individual: however, I do snppose they
gave our persecutors a private caution, for they
troubled us no more ; but, if that had not been, it is
likely they had a mind to begin anew upon us ; for
a little before the time of the informers, they brought
that law upon us, concerning twelve pence a Sunday,
so called; and they carried me, and my son and
daughter Abraham, to Lancaster prison, and kept us
there about three weeks. And when they considered,
that they could not £ne me, nor my house, when I
was in prison, then they let us go home, and soon
after they did fine us both for the house, and for
speaking as before hinted.

And thus have they troubled and. persecuted us
divers ways ; but the Lord Otod Almighty hath pre-
served me, and us, until this day; glorious praises
be given to him forevermore.

And the Lord hath given me such strength and
ability, that I have been at London, to see my dear
husband and children and relatives and friends there
in 1690, being the seventyHsixth year of my age; and
I was very well satisfied, refreshed and comforted in
my journey, and found Friends in much love, praises
be returned to the unchangeable God forever. This
being nine times that I have been to London, upon
the Lord's and His truth's account.''

The company of her two daughters, the wives of

John Bouse and William Mead, the former residing

at Kingston on Thames, and the latter at Goose's in

Essex, while on her visits to London, was doubtless

6

very comforting to her, and a great b

them. These were also favorite reaorta of G- Fox

when in that neighbourhiKxi.

After returning to her home, she wrote the foUtnw"
ing epistle to the Women's Meeting in London:— ^^H

" Dear Sistees : — "

In the eternal biessed truth, into which we are be-
gotten, and in which we stand, und are preserved,
as wo keep in it, and are gnidcd by it: in this is my
dear and nnohangeable love remembered unto you
all ; acknowledging your dear and tender love, when
I was with yOQ, in which my heart was rejoiced, to
feel the ancient love and unity of the eternal spirit
amongst you ; and my eouI was and is refreshed in
my journey, in visiting my dear husband and chil-
dren, and you my dear Friends. And now I am re-
turned to my own house and family, where I find all
well; praised and honoured be my Heavenly Father,
And dear Friends our engagements are great unto
the Lord, and he is dear and faithful unto us; and
blessed and happy are all they that are dear and
faithful unto Him. And those that keep single and
ohast« unto Him need not fear evil tidings, nor
what man can do, for He that hath all power in
heaven and earth in His hand, will surely keep
His own church and family, those that worship
Him, within the measuring line, that measures
the temple, and the albar, and those that worship
therein, they are kept safe, as in the hollow of His
hand.

MABQ ABET FOX. 63

And SO; dear Friends, my heart and soul was so
much comforted and refreshed, amongst you, that
I could not but signify the remembrance of my dear
love untQ you; and also my acknowledgment of
your dear love and tenderness to my dear husband ;
for which I doubt not, but the Lord doth and will
reward you; into whose hand and arm and power
I commit you.

M. Fox.

Swarthmore, 10th of 5<A month, 1690."

64 LIFE OF

CHAPTEE V. 1690-1702. .

DBATH OF GEORGE 70X — AGAIN GOES TO LONDON — ADPBB88
TO KING WILLIAM — HER DEATH, AND DYING SAYINGS —
TESTIMONY 07 HER CHILDREN, AND OTHER 7RIEND8, TO
HER CHARACTER — BURIED AT SWARTHMORB.

In the latter part of the year 1690^ her husband^
who had been in a declining state of health for
several years previous; died at the house of Henry
Gouldney^ in London^ after a few days' sickness^ in
much contentment and peace. '^ It fell to the lot of
William Penn," says Clarkson, "to communicate
this event to his wife." "I am to be/' says he,
"the teller to thee of sorrowful tidings, in some
respects, which is this, that thy dear husband, and
my beloved and dear friend, finished his glorious
testimony this night about half an hour after nine,
being sensible to the last breath. Oh ! he is gone,
and left us in the storm that is over our heads,
surely in great mercy to him, but as an evidence to
us of sorrow to come : a prince, indeed, is fallen in
Israel to-day ; he died as he lived, a lamb, minding
the things of God and His church to the last, in an
universal spirit."

They had been married about twenty-one years, and
during that period he had passed but a small part of
the time with her, his various religious engagements
keeping him almost constantly away from Swarthmore.

MARGARET FOX. 65

This circumstance probably gave rise to some censorious
remarks, for his wife, in speaking of it, says : "And
though the Lord had provided him with an out-
ward habitation, he was not willing to stay in it, be-
cause it was so remote and far from London, where
his service mostly lay. And my concern for God
and His holy and eternal truth was then in the
north, where God had placed and set me; and like-
wise for the ordering and governing of my children
and family; so that we were willing both of us to live
apart some years upon God's account and His truth's
service, and to deny ourselves of that comfort which
we might have had in being together, for the sake and
service of the Lord and His truth. And if any took
occasion, or judged hard of us, because of that, the
Lord will judge them; for we were innocent. And for
my own part I was willing to make many long journeys
for taking away all occasion of evil thoughts ; and
although I lived two hundred miles from London,
yet have I been nine times there, upon the Lord's
and His truth's account; and of all the times I
was in London, this last time was most comfort-
able, the Lord was pleased to give me strength and
ability to travel that great journey, being seventy-
six years of age, to see my dear husband, who was
better in health and strength than many times I had
seen him before. I look upon it, that the Lord's
special hand was in it, that I should go then ; for he
lived but about half a year after I left him ; which
makes me admire the wisdom ^and goodness of God
in ordering my journey at that time.''
6*

69 LIFE OF

In connection with this Bubject, it should he re-
membered that George Fox, during his married life,
was almost incessantly enguged in zealously propa-
gating his views of Chriatiaa faith, tind in establish-
ing the religions society that grew out of ihcm. Aa
a Gtrapel minister he visited North America and the
West India Islands; was twice in Holland, and other
parts of the continent of Europe, beside long and
laborious journoys in his native land, enduring also
an imprisonment of fourteen mouths in Worcester

Whilst his great mission remained unaceomplishod,
he contentedly relinquiBhed the ease of u comfortable
home, and the society of an interesting family. Bis
industry and zeal were rematkahle, love ti) God and
love to man, and the interests of the beloved people,
whom the Lord had enabled him to call' from the
barren and desolate mountains of an empty profes-
sion, to come and sit under their own vine and fig-
tree, where none could make them afraid, were the
powerful incentives that goi'crncd his conduct; and
in the performance of his duty to his Divine Master,
he was made willing to fursnke not only houses aad
lands, but wife also, for Uis sake and the gospel.

At the expense of much time and patience, he fn-
quently appeared before the Kings, Parliaments ■
Judges, in order to lay hc'fore them appeals for jM
tiee, mercy and moderation. He was also engt
with others in forming those excellent rules of d
pline intended for the goTemmcnt of the sodatjr^V
defending its doctdues from the argnmeabi i

MARGARET FOX. 67

cavils of opponents and apostates, and in writing and
publishing books for these and other purposes.

London being the metropolis of the kingdom, the
yearly meeting convening there, and many of the
leading and influential Friends residing in that city,
George Fox was necessarily much there in attending
to the secular interests of the society.

The facilities for travelling of the present day
strikingly contrast with the times we are now con-
sidering, scarcely any public conveyances being then
in use. Stage-coaches were but just coming into
existence in the reign of Charles the Second, and
were slow, inconvenient and clumsy vehicles, with
difficulty going the distance between Oxford and
London in daylight, which is now performed in a
little more than an hour. Travelling on horseback
was commonly and almost universally practised; pri-
vate carriages were^ used chiefly by the wealthier
classes; and wagons carrying merchandise to dif-
ferent parts of the country also accommodated a few
of the poorer sort of people. The state of the roads,
also, at this period, formed a serious obstacle to the
comfort of travelling, many of them being so much
out of repair as to be almost impassable, and often-
times infested with highwaymen ; so that a journey
of two hundred miles, besA with these difficulties,
may form a very important reason why he was so
much absent from home at this time.

It appears M. Fox again visited London, under
religious concern, in the year 1698. At that time
she addressed the following letter to King William,

68 LIFE OF

whicb was delivered to him by her danghter^ Susan
Ingram : —

"To King William: —

It hath pleased Almighty God to bring me unto
this place, two hundred miles from my dwelling, in
my old age (being entered into the eighty-fifth year
of my age), to bear my testimony for that eternal
truth, which I and many more are made partakers
of, praised be the Lord ; and I am not free and clear
to return to my habitation, until I have cleared my-
self unto this government. I was exercised in this
manner the first year King Charles the Second
came to the crown, and laboured amongst them a
whole year, to acquaint them, and give them to
understand our principles, in giving letters and
papers unto them for that end. And great opposi-
tion we had, both from church and state, yet it
pleased God to cause them to give us some liberty
to worship Him, though sometimes under great suf-
ferings.

An(i now I am to acquaint King William, that
we have been a people about forty-six years, and
have lived under several reigns, and we have suf-
fered very much, as it is well-known to the nation
of England, even to the death of several hundreds
by imprisonment and other hardships, and yet we
were never found in transgression of any just or
righteous law, but only upon account of our con-
sciences towards God ; that was the cause of our suf-
fering, and not for evil or wrong done to any man of

MARGARET FOX. 69

government; for our principle which we testify of is
the Light of Jesus Christ, and His eternal spirit,
which leads into all truth and righteousness, but not
into any untruth or evil actions. And if any bear-
ing the same name amongst us have transgressed
against the precious truth and royal law of liberty,
we do with the same spirit judge and condemn
them wherever they are found. And we do deny
all plottings and contrivings against the government,
and all false and underhand dealing; and we live in
that principle which is righteous, just and true;
for God is a God of truth, and blessed are all they
that fear Him, and walk in His truth. And now
God has placed thee over us, in this government,
who hast been very moderate and merciful to us,
and we live very comfortably under thee and it, and
do enjoy our meetings quietly, which formerly we
were much disturbed in, which was a great suffering
upon us ; and God has blessed thy government, and
prospered thy undertakings; for which the King
and we have cause to bless His holy name, who is a
God of peace, and His Son is Prince of peace, who
now has given us peace and tranquillity, for which
we praise His holy name; and thy gentle govern-
ment and clemency, and gracious acts, God hath and
will reward thee for. And as we abide in that just
and righteous principle of the eternal God, by which
we ought all to be guided, I hope the government
shall never hear worse of us; but that we shall
rather be a blessing than grievance to it and the
nation; for so it will be as we continue in the blessed

70 LIFE OF

truth; in which I pray God for thy preservation;
who am His servant^ and thy faithful subject.

Mabgabet Fox.
London, 2^th of ^th month j 1698 ''

She died at Swarthmore^ the 23d of the 2d
month; 1702, in the eighty-eighth year of her age,
having survived her husband about eleven years.

Her children say : " The blessed God of heaven
and earth preserved her understanding to the last;
and in the time of her sickness, she was in a sweet
frame of spirit, and uttered many heavenly expres-
sions near her conclusion in this world, which some
of us were eye and ear witnesses of; and we believe
she is inheriting a heavenly mansion, prepared by
the Lord Jesus Christ, for all his faithful followers."

Thomas Dockrey, who visited her shortly before
her decease, upon querying how she found herself,
she answered: "Very weak in body, but alive in
God:'' he also heard her speak many comfortable
and excellent words, thus : " The Lord is with me,
and I am with the Lord, and in Him only will I
trust and commit all to the divine providence of the
Lord, both concerning my children and grand-chil-
dren, and all things they do enjoy from Him, boUi
in spirituals and naturals, who is the God of all
the mercies and blessings to His people, throughout
all generations : to Him be glorious praises forever.
Amen."

Her daughter expressing what a blessed mother
she had been to her children, and whole poeterity,

MARGARET FOX. 71

she answered very sweetly: "Cleave to me, and
you will not do wrong, for I am joined to the
Lord/'

At another time she said : " Oh ! my sweet Lord,
into thy bosom do I commit myself freely j not de-
siring to live in this troublesome and painful world j
it is all nothing to me ; for my Maker is my hus-
band."

" Come, come, pray let us join the Lord, and be
of one spirit, join to the eternal God, and be of one
spirit.''

At another time : " Come, Lord Jesus, I am freely
given up to Thy will."

Again she said: "I freely forgive all people
upon the face of the whole earth, for any wrong
done to me, as freely as I desire to be forgiven."

And seeing her children sorrowful, she said : " Be
quiet ; for I am as comfortable, and well in spirit, as
ever I was." And a little before her close, to her
daughter Eachel : " Take me in thy arms, I am in
peace."

She was interred in the burial-ground belonging
to Swarthmore meeting-house, the 27th of 2d month,
many Friends out of several cotmties being present.
Thomas Camm, who attended her funeral, remarks :
"The Lord did eminently appear with us, and
many testimonies were borne to the honour of the
truth, and great satisfaction to many there, of
great quality and degree in the world ; and to the
comfort and edification of all the upright to God;
to whom belongs the praise of all His wonderftil

72 LIFE OF

works and marvellous loving kindness extended and
u^ultiplied; unto and upon His people, in and through
our Lord Jesus Christ, world without end. Amen/'

In the testimony of her children, concerning
her, they say : " The Lord so increased her growth
in the blessed truth, that .she became a mother in
Israel, and was very exemplary and serviceable in
the church of Christ, strengthening the weak, and
supporting the feeble. And a great care was upon
her, and she was very diligent in speaking, and
promoting the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, both
in this nation (where she travelled much), and to
other nations by epistles : which care she performed
and continued for many years, until the truth had
made a larger entrance in the nations; discounte-
nancing and reproving all false appearances, which
would have made a show of that which they were
not."

'^And the Lord made her a preacher of righteoua-
ness, both in a public testimony for the truth, and
in her life and conversation. And she continued
her zeal and constancy to and for the truth, in her
diligent attending of weekly, quarterly, monthly,
and other meetings for worship, in which she waa
truly exemplary, to very near the conclusion. And
also, she was raised up, and preserved a noble and
valiant sufferer for the truth, and its innocent testi-
mony ; so she spared no labour nor pains, in trayel-
ling to visit those that were under confinement for
the sake thereof, and was a comfort and strengih to
them ther^/'

MABOABKT FOX. 73

Thomas Gamm testifies of her : "And as she freely
denied and despised the glory of this fading world^
for Christ's and the troth's sake^ Ood gave her
honour^ and a name amongst the righteous, with
qualifications many ways for a considerable service
in His churchy in which she shined as a morning
star, being filled with real wisdom and understand-
ing, for the propagation of truth and righteousness ;
of a clear discerning of spirits, and the working of
the enemy, to draw from the life and power of
truth, into a liberty that genders to bondage, and to
separation and breach of unity amongst Friends,
appearing firm and zealous against the same, to the
comfort and help of many; fervent and living in
her ministry, and in supplications and prayers to
Almighty God, to the edifying and building up
many in that most precious faith, which givei^ vic-
tory over the world. Not only a great and exem-
plary sufferer for the truth, but a visitor and sympa-
thizer with all the faithful in their sufferings,
zealously labouring and endeavouring with such as
were in authority for their relief, as being afflicted
with the afflicted, and mourning with those that
mourned, trusting in the Arm of God's power, which^
is the support of the righteous.

She never spared herself, nor doubted of good
success, in her manifold labours on truth's accotmt;
both in her ministry abroad in most places in this
nation, and other services : but approved herself such
in zeal that needed not to be ashamed of her work
and service for the Lord, His Troth, and people in
7

LITE or ^H

her time, which she performed with all Bineerity,
Hod is now rewarded with the full fruition of eternal
life, and peace with her God, whom she loved, feared
and serrod with an upright heart, every way faith-
fully, while God was pleased to give her strength
and ability to perform the same."

George Whitehead sajs ; " She had a godly care
upon her for the sohor and virtuous edueation of her
children and ofispring; and the Lord blessed and
answered her therein is a good measure, and no
douht blessed them the more for her sake, as well BS
for their own salvation, for which ahe chicfiy tra-
vailed in spirit, and earnestly sought the Lord is
their behalf, beyond all temporal blessings."

Beside the epistles addressed to Friends by M.
Fox, she maintained an exl«nsive correspondence frith
many of the leading and eminent persons in the
society, in all parts of the nation. Numerous letteiB
addressed to her are preserved in the Swarthmore
collection, relating principally to the difficulties and
persecutions under which many of its members suf-
fered, and the various applications made to the
monarchs, the Parliament and magistrates for re-
dress. It is very remarkable to observe the respect
with which she was regarded by the early Friends,
and the affectionate terms in which they addreBBod
her.

Edward Burrough styles her : " Dear Sister, who
art a fruitful branch in the living vine, and a pl«^
Bant plant in the garden of God."

And Alexander Parker: " Dearly beloved (

beloved aifl|^^|

MABOABET FOX. 75

dearly do I salute thee. Our life is one ; our joy
one; our suffering one; our food and raiment one;
eating both of one bread, and drinking both of one
cup in the Father's house, where there is bread
enough, and wells of living water to refresh the ten-
der plants; where the babes are nourished and fed
with the milk, and receiye their meat in due sea-
son ; where there is joy and rejoicing in the presence
of the Lord, and pleasures forevermore ; which only
those do enjoy, who have followed the Jjamb through
many tribulations and fiery trials and temptations,
and have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and
their garments washed white and clean. Hallelu-
jah I praises to His glorious name forever, who has
called and chosen us, and made us partakers of the
divine nature; and hath redeemed us from the
world and the pollutions of it : to be witnesses of
His powerful name ; and in His power and free love,
hath He sent us abroad into the world, to turn others
&om darkness and their vain conversation; that
they may have union with us in the light of His
Son, and praise and glorify His eternal Majesty for-
ever and forevermore."

How much she was beloved by her immediate
connections will appear from the following extract
from a memorial of her by her sons-in-law, after her
death : —

"And as for us, who are her sons-in-law, we can-
not but give our testimony of our sense of her
worthiness, and we account ourselves happy, and it
is a singular mercy to us, that the Lord gave us

76 LIFE OF MARGARET FOX.

wives of the daughters of suoli a worthy pensoiii
and that we are partakers of their yirtuons educa-
tion; whereby they are made a blessing to us/' &c.

Indeed, she appears to have been regarded as a
nursing mother in the church, both spiritually and
temporally, visiting Friends in prison, entertaining
them at her house, and freely dispensing of her sub-
stance for their comfort and support.

Thus having &ithfully served her generation
according to the will of her Heavenly Father, she
has passed, we doubt not, to the fruition of that
glorious reward promised to the righteous, to those
who, through much tribulation, have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb.

EPISTLES.

7*

(77)

PREFACE TO MARGARET FOX'S EPISTLES,

WBITTEN BY HEBSELT.

Friendly Eeabeb: —

The following epistles were written at the first ap«
pearance of truth among us^ when we were young in
it: the light of Christ being our first principle^
our minds beiug turned to it^ and it having be-
come our teacher^ leader and guider, we saw per-
fectly that there was no safety, nor preservation
out of sin and transgression, but as we obeyed
the light, and followed it in our hearts and con-
sciences, it leading out of sin, transgression and
iniquity: so as we waited in it, and dwelt in it^
we came to witness a washing and cleansing, by the
blood of Jesus. And so we came to discern, be-
tween the precious and the vile, and between the
holy, and the unclean, and between the chaff, and
the wheat; and between those that served God, and
those that served Him not. And when we came to
this sight, and knowledge, and discerning, then we
became very zealous for God, and for His truths ^ssi^
for the preservation o£ H.V» '5fto^<^\s!L^^^2CQ&^\ '«ssSj

PREFACE TO

onr hearts became tender, and we had a pity for aH'^
people's Boula that remained in darkne
moved of the Lord to writ* often to Friends, and our 'i
testimony was very much to the light of Christ in '
the conscience; because we saw that was the way,
and there waa no other; for Christ Jesus said, I am (
the Light J He aJao Baid, I am the way, the trnth, ^
and the life; asd there is none that can come to the \
Father, but by me.

And so we received His Testimony, and could si
to our seals that this was true. And then we saif 1
the great concern that lay upon thia, which is th<
Balvation of poor people's souls. And we knowing ai
GhriEt said, they that hated the Light it waa their A
condemnation; and also those that obeyed it,
would bring them to Christ their aalvation; tUi '
made us very importonate with all people, both Friends
and others, to direct them to the Light, and obey ib

And also there being such a body of darknen^
which warred against it; far people having lived io ■
darkness, oat of the knowledge of the Light, it mm 1
Eucb a new doctrine to them, that there was a migb^ %
war in people's minds agunst it; and the prieats and '
professors setting themselvos against it, calling it &
natural light ; and some saiil it was a, dim light, and
Borne scoffingly called it a dark lantern, and others
Baid it was not sufficient bo condemn : so in theif J
dark imaginations they fought against it. And verJJ
mncb we had to do in the beginning to get peopla
convinced of the Truth, and of the sufficiency of it)'
ftud also those that were convinced, to keep them ift I

MABOABET POX'S XPISTLES 81

obedience to it. But the Lord's arm and power car-
ried on His own work, notwithstanding all the oppo-
sition of the power of darkness ; glory and praises be
to His holy name forever.

Here are a few epistles preserved^ but many more
are wanting, the copies beif g lost, with many other
papers and letters that might have been serviceable }
but in love to all people, we bring those that we have
to open view; that if the Lord give a blessing to
them^ they may be serviceable hereafter, as they
have been to many heretpfore. The Truth is one
and the same always ; and though ages and genera-
tions paas away, and one generation goes and another
oomes^ yet the Word, and Power, and Spirit of the
living God endures forever, and is the same, and
never changes.

And so, reader, cleave to the blessed Light and
Truth of the living God, that He hath placed in thy
heart, and believe in it, and hearken to it, and obey
it, and it will lead thee in the path that we have
gone, and then thou wilt see, and feel, and under-
stand what we have gone through; and thou wilt
come to be a witness of the living God and His
Truth, which will be peace and comfort to thy soul.

The Lord Qod Almighty open thy heart, and
enlighten the eye of thy understanding, that thou
mayest come to have unity with all the saints in
Ught.

A GENEBAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, 166B.

Fbien'ds, whom the Lord God huth ctJled unto
the light which ie et^roaJ, which the Lord Gud has
sent, to bring Pin eecd out of boudugo, und out of
the house of darkness, &um under Pharaoh, and his
taak-masters, which has so long been held under the
dark power and mysteiy of iniquity. The Lord God
of lifii and power hath visited you, and sont His ser-
vants to awuken you, and to raise you &om the dead,
th&t Christ might give you life, who is now come and
coming to redeem lerael, and to divide the Red Seaj
and to overturn Pharaoh aud hia host Stand, still
(I say unto you) and see the salvation of God, and
la the fear of the living God wait low in your own
measure of gntoe, and Inuken diligently unto that,
that your souls may live. Aad this you must do, if
ever you witness the living Ood; so in the name aud
power of the Lord Jesus Christ, at whose name every
Icnee shall how, and every tongue confess, beware
faow you spend your money for that which is not
bread, and your labour for that which perisheth ; it
is the diligent hand that maketh rich, but the idle,
slothful and negligent, suffer want. And beware of
going from your Guide, which keepcth you low and
tender, and priiie the love of God that ever He
should visit you; and bewaro that you do not requite
Him evil for good, for He is a jealous God, and will

XPISTLESi 83

liot clear the guilty; it is tlie low^ and the meek,
and humble that the Lord God teacheth, it is
the broken and contrite spirit, that God will not de*
spise. And He, who is the high and loflj one, that
inhabiteth eternity^ dwelleth in the hearts of the
humble.

But all who are got up in their imaginations, thd
Lord God will scatter, and the proud, the high,
and the lofty, the Lord doth resist; and this you
shall witness) the Lord feeds the hungry, but the
rich is sent empty away. And they who thirst,
and breathe after righteousness, such the Lord satis-
fieth. So read, and with the eternal light examine
and search, and try what it is that you thirst after;
whether it be righteousness, purity and holiness, for
these will the Lord satisfy ; and whoever is not thus
seeking, shall nerer receive satisfaction from the
Lord God ; but wrath, and terror, and horror, shall
fiili upon that which is contrary to this. So, as you
love your eternal peace, and the redemption of your
souls, keep low in your measure of the living testi-
mony which Cometh from the living God, which is
one in all, in its measure one ; there is no divi-
sion, no rent, but all one. And this gathers your
hearts together, and this knits and unites unto the
body, where the unity is; and who gathers not here,
scatters abroad; and he that is not with us here,
is against us. So examine, and try whether you
are gathering now or scattering abroad, with the
Light which is eternal, which is one in all. Examine
and try your own selves, I charge you, as you will

M EPISTLES.

answer it before the Lord God ; come down and
Btoop to the yoke of Christ, which is easy, and take
His yoke npOD you, and His burden which is light;
and beware of fltarting from under the yoke of obedi-
ence, or pulling away the shoulder ; for the Lord
God requires not only sacrifice, but obedience, which
is better. And that min-d that looks outward, from
the measure enjoyed, and joine to anything without)
contrary to the freedom, of the spirit within, that
mind is for judgment. The eternal spirit of God
is one in all, and that which divides one irom
another, ia for judgment, for where division is, that
is of the kingdom that cannot stand. So rend where
you are, for if you are in that which is divided, you
cannot stand. So in love and tenderness to your
eouls, I warn and charge jou from the Lord, keep in
the light, which is one, in the power, which is one,
in the measure of life made manifest in you, which ia
one. And here is no division, nor separation, but a
gathering and a knitting. And if you love the
light, then you come to the light to be proved, and
tried whether your works be wrought in God. But
that which hatea the light, turns from the light, and
that shall be condemned by the light forever. And
though you may turn from the light, where the unity
is, and you may turn from the eternal truth ; but
frvm the witness of God in your consciences,
(which he hath placed in you, which bearoth «it>
nesB for the living God,) you can never Sj; tltat
shall pursue you wherever you go. And tbeyi
turn out from the light, their resurreotion is to d

X.PI8TLX8« 85

demnation^ and on tlie left liand they are put among
the goatS; and shall have their portion with hypo-
crites and unbelievers ; and this shall be witnessed
forever.

And this I was moved of the Lord^ to write to
yoU; in love and tenderness to the measure of God
in you, with which I have unity, which will witness
for me forever; and this is in love to your souls. So
the Lord God of life and power keep you alive in
that, which He hath placed in you, to His everlast-
ing glory : for a sweet savour we are unto God, both
in them that are saved, and in them that perish.
And beware how you draw back from the everlasting
truth, that the Lord Gbd hath tendered to you,
which you shall eternally witness to be of Gt)d : for
he that draweth hack, my »cml hath no pleasure m
hhfhj saith God. That which we have heard, and
have seen, and felt, and our hands have handled^
even the Word of life which hath been declared unto
you.

Erom one who desires the good of all souls.

Mabgabet Fell.

8

86 XFISTLXfi.

AN EPISTLE TO CONVINCED FRIENDS,

m 1666.

Dear Friends^ brethren and sisters in the eter-
nal light; by which we are gathered^ which is onr
teacher and leader: which light cometh from our
Lord Jesus Christy the Captain of onr salyatioDi
in whom is life^ and this life is the light of men;
who has laid down His life for His sheep; and who
gives unto His sheep eternal life ; and this life is in
His Son : your righteousness is ofme^ saith the Lord;
and this is the heritage of the saints: this yoa
are made partakers of, who walk in the light, and
dwell in the light, you shall have the light of lifey
and come to know the only true Ood, and Jesus
Christ whom He hath sent, who is come a light into
the world : he that belieyes in Him, shaU not walk
in darkness, shall not perish, but have everlasting
life. And this is the Father's free love, to send His
only begotten Son into the world, who is hated and
rejected of men, but chosen of Ood and precious,
who is become the head of our comer : glory eternal
be to the living God ! on Him are we built, in Him
are we rooted and grounded: he is our foundation
and root, we His offspring, on whom we stand fast,
nnmovable. This is the comer stone, which all the
builders refuse and disallow; but on this rock is the

SPISTLBS. 8T

whole cliarch built, which is made of living stones,
elect and precious, the spiritual temple, whose maker
and builder is God. And now we having an high
priest over the household of Gody let vs draw near
vnth a true heart, in fuU assurance of faiJthy having
our hearts sprinkled from am, evU conscience^ and our
bodies washed vnth pure waier. Wherefore return to
the shepherd of your souls, an unchangeable priest
which is made with an oath forever, after the order
of Melchisedeck, who is made surety of a better tes-
tament, who needeth not daily to offer sacrifice, but
he hath offered one sacrifice^ and forever is set down
at the right hand of Ood, from henceforth expecting
until his enemies be made his footstool. For by one
offering he hath perfected forever them that are
sanctified ; and of this the Holy Ghost is a witness
to us in the fulfilling of the everlasting promise of
ihe Lord God, who hath said, / wiU put my laws in
their hearts, and in their minds will Iiorite them.

Now, dear brethren, of this bear witness, and of
ihe truth and faithfulness of the Lord God, you may
set to your seals, all who abide in the light, and de-
part from iniquity, who name this name, which is
better than other names : to which every knee shall
bow, and every tongue confess. And now that ye
are made partakers of a living, pure, eternal, immor-
tal principle, which came from the living God, by
which you may enter into the holiest, by the blood of
Jesus, by this new and living way, which He hatii
consecrated for us through the veil (that is to say),
His flesh : therefore hold fiiafc \Jckft y^qI^wsb^s^ ^H. ^^s^sl

B8 BPISTLES.

fidth without wavering, for ^ithftil is He that hallr
promised ; and in the straight and narrow way that
leads to life pass on, that through the straight gate
yon may enter, which few there he that find. Oh !
in the eternal light (which is one in all) which leads
up to the Father of light ; and in the measnre of
light received from the Father and fountain of
light and life, all wait, and dwell ; and to the lift
ndsed hy the immortal Word of life, join your
minds; and pass i^m death to life, that so yoa
may come to know and witness the true love that
is to the hrethren, where unity is, whereby you all
may know that you are true disciples ; in that jtm
love one another ; and here you faHSl the whole hiw,
and keep the new commandment, which your Lord
and Master has commanded.

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, consider what
ye are called to, and what ye are made to partake of,
even of a living, and pure and holy priesthood, a
peculiar people ye are, and of the holy nation, and
of the Royal Seed. Now with the light which is
eternal, which searches, tries, examines, weighs,
and makes all things manifest of what sort they
are; let it search and try you, how you grow up
in the eternal and immortal birth, and do not de-
ceive your souls : Ibr except you he bom agam^ of
water and of the tpirity ye eofmot enter. Now see
whether ye can read this in the light ; and whedier
ye know, and see, and witness this in your owm
partieularS| yea or nay; and see whether yoa are

not like NioodenraSy who said, EaUf can ikeMe tkmgM
het and whether ye aie not ignorant of this.

Therefore come down to the witness of (}od,
and deal plainlj with joor own sools; and let the
judge which stands at the docNTy pass sentence npon
jon. Let the time past suffice, thai yon haye hid
the talent in the earth, which yon have receiyed
firam the Loid to profit withaL And let the earth
giro up her dead, uid the sea give np her dead, and
hell giye op her dead, and 1^ all come to jndgmiNit|
and let death and hell he east into the lake; and
fieely give np thai which is £» the sword to the
sword; and thai whidi is ftr the fire, to the fire; so
those who are dead in sin, may arise. For what
avails it else, fox yon to take the profiossion and fonn
of the liying troth ? For tf the dead rite notj ye art
pet m your am, amd your faith tii vom. Therefore
see what yon are doing : fixr it is not the sayer, hoi
he ikai doeth the wiU of my Father ; 9BA,many thoM
he called amd fern ehawen. Now see with the li^ii
which is etenial, thai ye are not only of the many
whidi are called, hut of the few whidi are chosen;
and give all dilig^ioe not to make only your calling^
but your election sure. And Friends, your day of
calling is come; ye are called out of the world, and
separated firom the world, by the call of the living
G^ : the li^bt calls out of Sodom and Egypt, where
the many are. Therefiare do not deceiYe yourselYesy
ton ye are some of the many thai are called; and ye
are made partakers of that which calls continually,
the voice behind, which ciiea, ThiU xl the vmi^i^maiSW
8*

wAy will yt die? Now conBider, how yoo
J this holy call, how joe are obedient to
it, how you are subject, and how you are taught
Bud piided, by the incasnre of God's sprit; for aB
the children of the Lord are lavgkt of the Lord, and
in righteim»nesi are they establiihed. Now search
with the light, which ie eternal, whether ye are
establiBhed in righteousness and parity ; if ye are
not, then mind the teachings of the hoTd./orhe that
walks in the light, ae lie tg in the light, llie blood of
Jesu* clean-teth from off sin. Now examine whether
ye are cleanaedj whether ye are pui^d, whether ye
are washed; for if ye waEk in the tight, then ye ihSh^
ness cleansing and washing.

Beware of betraying the just and the inni
in you (I warn and charge you, as you will answer!
to the Lord) with a form and profession of the tmtl^
without the life, and so tetray your own souls j but
to the pure eternal principle of the Lord God
turn, and keep your minds unto this, which is given
unto yon, for the redeeming and ransoming of your
BOnls from the captiTity and bondage of sin and cor-
ruption ; and hearken diligently to that of Gi>d that
your souls may live ; and that you may see joru
Saviour, who saves Hia people from their sins, and
BO witness the salvation of your bouIh. Ye are made
partakers of the free graoe of God, which brings sal-
vation; so lot it be your teacher and leader. And
beware of turning this grace into wantonness, whidl
is able to save your souls ; but receive with xaaA-
ness the ingrafted Word, that the milk thereof je

e Trit^

KPISTLE0. 91

may witness, and as new-born babes, desire tbat you
may grow thereby; and so the Word that is nigh, in
the heart, which is the Word of &ith which we
preach; which Word was in the beginning (by
which the heaven and earth were made), which
we have heard, which we have «een, which ow
hands have handledf this toe declare unto you. And
to the measure of this in yon, am I made manifest;
and my joy and life is, Uiat yon would take heed to
your own measures received, and be true and faithAil
to that which is able to save your souls ; that eternal
pure redemption ye may come to witness, and the
unity of the faith, &c., and so joining to the body,
which holdeth the head, from which the living
virtue is received, you may grow up as lively
plants in the garden of God, which he is dress-
ing, watering, and pruning, that to Him fruit may
be brought forth, who is the Lord of the vint-
yard, and the husbandman, who purgeth every plant
ihat beareth fruit, that it may bring forth more
fruit; and every branch that beareth not fruit, he
taketh away. Now see with the eternal light, whe-
ther you bring forth fruit unto God ; for every tree
is known by its fruit; and every branch, which the
Lord planteth, brings forth fruit (not only leaves,
but fruit). Now search, whether you bring forth
fruit or leaves ; for that tree, that is in the garden,
and brings forth nothing but leaves, is to be cut
down.

Friends, deal plainly with yourselves, and let
the eternal light search you, and try you, for the

^ XPISTLX8.

good of yotir souls; for this will deal plainly with
you; it will rip you up; lay you open, and make
all manifest that lodgeth in you; the secret subtilty
of the enemy of your souls, this eternal searcher and
tryer will make manifest. Therefore all come to
this; and be searched, judged, led and guided;
for to this you must stand or fall; and if yon
turn from this, it is a swifb witness against the
adulterer and sorcerer, and from it you oannol
flee ; in this I have cleared my conscience ; for the
good of your souls I have written, who desirei
that you all might be where I am, that so we might
all be one. And so the Lord Gbd of life and power
keep you in His fear, that the Lord Qod you maj
serve and honour; that your hearts may be kept
clean, and the secrets of the Lord ye may come to
know, which none shall ever know, but those that
feftr Him ; and this ye shall eternally witness. And
therefore I say again, fear the Lord Otody that so the
pure wisdom ye may come to leam; for dreadful
and terrible is the Lord God; and the day of the
vengeance of our Ood is come, in which He renders
to every one according to his deeds ; the backslider,
the revolter, the disobedient ones, the careless, the
slothful, and those whose minds are at liberty, and
will not abide in the cross of Christ ; all these shall
receive according to their deeds.

Therefore, dear Friends, abide in the cross, and
keep your minds to that which is pure ; so that you
may come to witness the enmity slain, the hand-
writing of ordinances blotted out, and nailed to the

epistles'. 98

cross, and you crucified to the world, and the world
to you; and consider one another, and provoke one
another to love and to good works ; not forsaking the
assembling of yourselves, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more, as you see the day approach-
ing. And dwell in love and unity, in the pure eter-
nal light; there is your fellowship, there is your
cleansing and washing. And here is the mystery to
all the disobedient ones. And the everlasting God,
of light, life and power, keep you all faithfiil to your
own measure ; that so the resurrection and the life
ye may witness, and the living bread ye may feed
on, which, whosoever eateth of, shall never die. So
Qod Almighty be with you, and preserve you all
&ithful in Christ Jesus.

From your dear sister in the unchangeable love of
Christ, who desires the good of all your souls.

Habgabet FelIm

94 EPISTLES,

AN EPISTLE TO FMENDS, 1657.

Dear Brethren and Sisters, who are gath-
ered in the light of Christ Jesus, the fountain of all
light, and life, from whence light comes, from whence
life comes, from whence power comes; which re-
deems out of nations, kindreds, people and tongaeSi
to be kings and priests unto God, to reign with
Him upon the earth. This is the possession of the
saints who dwell in the light, that leads them into
the life and fountain from whence it comes } here is
the unity of the spirit, and bond of peace, wHoh
never can be broken. Here the pure language and
worship of the Lord is, with one heart, one con-
sent, and one soul, where there is no division; hoi
the pure path of life is known, the way of holiness,
where the unclean cannot pass, where the presence
of the Lord is, wherein is fulness of joy, and plea-
sures forevermore. Now that every one may read his
name here, in the unchangeable life is this writteni
that the pure life in all may prevail, and that the
poor may receive the gospel ; which is glad tidings
of great joy to the oppressed and heavy laden, which
groan under the bondage of corruption, and cry for
deliverance; the cry whereof, is entered into the
ears of the Lord of Sabaoth; and he hath determined
in the thoughts of His heart, that the deliverer
shall come from Zion, and the captivity of His people
will He bring back, and salvation will come vnto

SPISTLES. 95

Israel; so that Jacob shall rejoice; and Israel shall
be glad, glory, everlasting glory be unto His ever-
lasting arm forever; by which He gets nnto Himself
a name and victory even to the astonishment of the
heathen, and to the confounding of His enemies, and
to the recovering, raising and quickening of many
who were dead in sins. And though He hath been
a God unknown, now is He arisen in His light,
which shineth in the conscience, and He hath
caused it to shine out of darkness, and it hath
shined in the heart; which gives the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus
Christ His Son.

And now unto them who have long sat in darkness,
and under the shadow of death, even unto them hath
this light shined, who were sometime darkness, but
now are they light in the Lord, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, even them hath He quick-
ened together with Christ, glory and praises be unto
Him forever. Now dear friends in this quickening
spirit, wherewith you are quickened out of the sleep
and death of corruption, where Christ hath given you
light, walk in Him, learn of Him, who is lowly, who
is meek; and be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow
to wrath, and keep down and baulk that part which
receives a prejudice; search narrowly, and beware
that you receive it not j&om a wrong spirit, for that
will wrong the innocent; and the simplicity both in
yourselves and others; it is hard to know the spiritual
wickedness in high places, and it is with the spiritual
weapons of the living God, that you can wrestle with

96 XPISTLX8.

tlie prindpalitiefl and powen of spiritiud wieked-
neas', and it is the brightneaa of His coming, and
the spirit of His montli, tliat can leveal the man of
miiy the son of perdition, that sitteth in the temple of
God^ exahed above all thai is called Grod, showing
himself as God. This is narrow and deep to discern
between him that showeth himself as Crod, and ia
not, and him that is the true image indeed.

Dear Friends, this I write unto yon in tender and
in dear loye to the Seed of Crod in jon all, for which
my soul travails; knowing and being aoqnainted
with the danger of this spirit, whidi measores itself
by itself, which the Apostle said was not wise, finr
such will boast of things without their measure, and
will boast of other men's lines. Now that ye nu^
know, and feel the life and power of eveiy spirit;
knowing the pure life in yourselves, you will oome.to
savour it in others ; and that which savours of the
death, will be death to the life, in the fear of the
Lord Ood. Beware of stifling the pure birth of God
in you, and of wronging the pure innocent seed in
you, which Qod is coming to plead the cause of in all
flesh in this day. And beware that you join not with
God's enemies, either in yourselves or others; but
join with God's pure witness and testimony, and
there will be your peace. And here you will know
Him, who is the life, and the resurrection ; he that
believes in Him, though he were dead, yet ahatt
he live ; and there is no other name under heavetti
whereby any shall be saved, than by that namei
which if better than every name; to which eveijknoe

EPISTLES. 97

eliall bow, and every tongue confess; but tbere are
none that know this name, but he that hath the
white stone, in which it is vrritten.

From a true friend of the Seed of God in all
nations. Margaret Fell.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i^^^^^*^

AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, 1659.

My dearly beloved Brethren and Sisters,
in the everlasting truth, and eternal love, and power
of an endless life, into which we were begotten, and
have been nursed up, and kept in, as living stones
growing up in the temple of the living God; the
same power and arm is present with you, and owns
you; therefore keep in it, and let your faith stand in
the power and life of God in every particular ; and
in that book of life will you read me near, as if pre-
sent, in the everlasting covenant and bond of peace,
which is never to be broken ; and in that love of
Jesus Christ, which none can separate us from,
height nor depth, life nor death. The eternal God
keep you, who brought again our Lord Jesus Christ
from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant; and by His blood wash you, and cleanse
you from all sin, and all that would separate from
God ; that you may have fellowship one with another
in the eternal light and life, and there I leave you;
and to the Word of His eternal power I commit you,
and commend you to His eternal Arm, which is able
to save your souls, and to keep you up to Himself.
9 M.F.

98 EPISTLES*

AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS IN IRELAND,

IN 1661.

My dear love in tlie Lord God Almighty is
nnto you all, whicli never changeth, but endures for-
evermore ; which love as it is lived in, preserves and
keeps to the Lord God and His commandments, laws
and statutes ; which love is the fulfilling of the whole
law of God, and answers to all commands, in thought,
word and action. And this keeps clean, low and in-
nocent, and moulds us into its own frame and temper,
and so brings to be a new lump, leavened into the bowels
of everlasting love, which rcacheth unto all, and ex-
tends unto all, even unto enemies. Oh ! blessed and
happy are all they that are come into this sweet being
of universal love, which would have all to be saved,
and come to the knowledge of the truth. This is the
imago and nature of the blessed God, that holds forth
His tender hand, and everlasting love, unto all
people, nations, languages, kindreds and tongues,
who is no respecter of persons, but every nation
that fears God, and worketh righteousness, is ac-
cepted with Him, whose call is to every one that
thirsteth, come, and whosoever is athirst, let him
come and drink of the water of life freely. Oh ! the
infinite love and bowels of everlasting life and fVilnesB
that dwells in His blessed bosom, righteousness and

EPISTLES. 99

peace is tlie habitation of His throne. Oil I my dear
lambS; let the issues of life be kept open, that issueth
into your souls, from this blessed fountain, that you
may feel it always open unto you, and you open unto
it, that youmay always feel it fresh and new, flowing
into your souls. So will you feel the word of the
Lord God sweeter unto you than the honey, or the
honey-comb; and so will you come truly to know,
that man liveth not by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth from the Lord God; here
stands the life of men, and so to do the will of the
Lord God, will be meat and drink unto you, and will
be more delightful than your ordinary food; and
then will not sufferings, trials and hardships be
strange unto you ; knowing that the Captain of your
salvation, who is gone before you, is made perfect
through sufferings; who in the days of His flesh,
when He had offered up prayers and supplications ;
with strong crying and tears unto Him that was
able to save Him, because He feared; though
He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the
things which He suffered, and so must all that follow
His steps; the servants are not greater than their
Lord ; and blessed and happy are all they that learn
this lesson in the power of God, not only to believe
on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; for they who
suffer for Him, shall also reign over their enemies
with Him ; and in His power will they subdue and
conquer at the last, for the Lamb and His followers
shall have the victory.

And so, my dearly beloved, be strong in the Lord

100 EPISTLBS.

and in the power of His might, and be ^thful, and
bold, and true to your Maker, and he will be a hus-
band unto you, and set your feet upon the rook most
sure, that if the storms beat, and the tempests blow,
yet you will not be shaken, for He that keepeth you
is greater than all, and none is able to pluek you out
of His hand. Into whose arm and power I commit
you, everlastingly to dwell and abide with the Lord
God, with whom all things are possible. The Ood of
love, whose mercies &il not, preserve and keep you
all, and nurse you up in His own bosom, to His own
praise and glory, that you may be a people saved bj
the Lord.
From your dear friend and sister,

M. Fell.

PBINCIPAL WORKS

OF

MARGARET FOX.

»^/W»^^^»/V^»^A/W

Her principal works are: ^'A Call to the Jews
out of Babylon/' addressed to Mannassah Ben Israel,
a famous Jewish BAbbi, then in England.

"A Testimony of the Touch Stone for all Profes-
sors, &o., to try their ground and foundation by;"
both published in 1656.

'^A Loving Salutation to the Seed of Abraham
among the Jews/' &c.

'^ Women's Speaking justified, proved and allowed
by the Scriptures, all such as speak by the spirit and
power of the Lord Jesus/' &c.

And ^'A Touch Stone, or Trial by the Scriptures
of the Priests, Bishops and Ministers who have called
themselves Ministers of the Gospel/' &c.; besides
numerous others of minor importance.

Li " A Touch Stone, or Trial by the Scriptures,**
&c., she thus describes the nature, design and effect
of true spiritual worship, and Christian ministry,
which she contrasts with the drj) i<yra^ ^^ss^^k^

^vhic}l bo much prevailed among the professors
religion in that day : —

" Ohrbt when be spake to the woman of Samari^
and she told him that their fathers worshipped in
that mountain of Samaria, Jeans saith unto her, Wo-
Inan helieve me, the hour cometh, when ye shall nei-
ther in thb mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship
the Father; but the hour cometh, and now is, when
the truo worahipperB shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth, for the Father sccketh such to
worship Him ; God is a spirit, and they that worship
Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth : and
to this purpose Jesus spake unto Nicodemus, who
came unto Him by night, when He said unto him,
Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be bom
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. At which
words Nicodemus wondered; hut JesuH answered,
Except a man he horn of waler and the spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is bom of the flesh is flesh ; and that which is bom
of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto
thee, ye must be bom again; the wind blowelh
where it listeth, &e.

And to this purpose was the man, who^^c name was
John, sent of God, to bear witness of Christ Jesns
the light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that light, hut was sent to bear witness of
that light, that was the true light, which lighteth every
man that cometh into the world. He was in tlut
world, and the world wa« made by Him.
VBS bom not of blood, nor of the will of the

I

MABOABET FOX. 108

nor of the will of man, but of Gtod. John bore wit-
ness of Him, and cried, saying. This is He of whom
I spake. He that cometh after me, is preferred before
me; and of His fulness have we all received grace
for grace.

And to bring people to this light and spirit of the
the Lord within them, did Christ Jesns and all His
holy apostles endeavour by their preaching; there-
fore said Jesus Christ unto Nicodemus, We speak
what we know, and testify what we have seen, and
ye receive not our witness. This is the condemnation
that light is come into the world, and men love dark-
ness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved; but he that doeth
truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be
made manifest, that they are wrought in God. This
is Christ's doctrine and worship.

"And when He was preaching among His disci-
ples, and the Scribes and Pharisees heard Him, and
many believed among the chief, but they did not
confess Him, because of the Pharisees, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue; Jesus cried
out among them, and said. He that believeth in
me, believeth not in me, but in Him that sent me.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever be-
lieveth in me, should not abide in darkness. And
if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge
him not, for I came not to judge the world, but to
save the world. He that rejecteth me, and re-
ceiveth not my words^ hath One that judgeth him;

104 miSOlPAL WORKS ov H

the word tiint I luive Gpoken elmll judge him at tiie
last day.

"And Christ told the Pharisees thut the kingdom
of Grod came not hy observation ; but the kingdom
of Qod was tritkin them. Aud when He sent forth
Hia disciples, He saith, As ye go, preach, saying the
kingdom of God is &t han.d. Also when He sent out
the seventy, He said, Hea,l the sick that are therein;
and say the kingdom of God ia nigh unto jou. And
we also see by the cpistlee of the apostles, which are
left upon record, after what manner of doctrine and
exhortation they spake unto the people. . . .

"When Peter speaketh of hia beloved brother
Paul and of hia epistles, which he hud written, and
what he spake ; some things, he saith, ate hard to be
understood, which they that are unlcurned and uu-
Etable wrest, aa thoy do alao the other Scriptures,
unto their own destructioii. So they that have not
the inspiration of the Almighty, and motion of the
Spirit of the Lord God, tbc same that gave forth the
Scriptures, when they come to interpret them, and
give meanings to them, being unlearned therein,
they just wrest them to their own destruction, and
therefore they do uot profit the people at alt. These
be they who separate themselves; men that are ses-
Bual, not having the Spirit. . . .

"Also the Apostle Paul in Romans, where he u
speaking of his heart's desire and prayer to God for
Israel, he tells them, Thut Christ is the end of the
law to every one that believctb. For, saith he, the
righteousness of fuith spcuketh in this wine, aa; aot

'yABaARXT FOX. 105

in thy heart who shall ascend into heaven, that is to
bring Christ down from above? or who shall descend
into the deep, that is to bring Christ up again from
the dead ? But what saith it ? The Word is nigh
thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is the
word of faith which we preach.

''And when he wrote to the Hebrews he rehearseth
the new covenant, that the prophets Isidah and Jere-
miah had prophesied of, and saith, this is the cove-
nant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts,
and in their minds will I write them. These, with
many more places of Scripture, might be instanced
of the apostles, how they ministered both in preach-
ing and writing.

''And in the first epistle of John, he saith. That
which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, and our
hands have handled of the Word of life : this we de-
clare unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us;
and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with
His Son Jesus Christ. Here was a right minister
of Ood, that would have had those he wrote to,
be in fellowship with him, who was in fellow-
ship with the Father and with the Son ; and there-
fore he saith unto them, these things I write unto
you, that your joy may be full. This then is the
message which we have heard from him, and de-
clared unto you, that Gt>d is light, and in Him is no
darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with
Him and walk in darkneBB, n^ '^<ft «eAl ^ Tiri^*^^

106

IPAl W0EK8 OF

truth ; but if we walk in tie light, as He is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ Hia Son eleanaeth ua from all
fiin. And again, the Eame apostle Baith, A new
commandment I write unto you; which thing la
true in him and iti you; because the darkness is
past, and the true light now shineth. Let that,
therefore, abide in you vhich ;e have heard from
the beginning. If that which ye have heard from
the beginning shall abide in you, ye shall also con-
tinue in the Son, and in the Father. These things
have I written unto you, ccncerning them that scdocfi
yon; but the anointing, Tthich je have received of
Him, abideth in yon; and ye need not that any mna
teach you, but aa the same anoiiitiug teachcth you
of all things, and is truth, and no lie; even as He
hathtaughtyouyeshall abide in Him: Per ye have an
unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."

In "A Testimony of the Touch Stone for all Pro-
fessors, and all forms and gathered Churches, &c., to
try their ground and fouudation by," she directs
them to the light of Christ in themselves as a
guide t« holiness. A few extracts ate given, to i
her manner of treating the subject,

" Now is the light of th-e glorious gospel rtsen,
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of tl
that bring glad tidings of this gospel, (hat publiah
peace, that say unto Zion, thj King reignelh. To
all who desire to know the way to Zion doth tUl
voice cry to turn their faces to the light of Ji
Christ, who came riding upon an ass' colt, to tbfl

Ihe^l

MABQABET FOX. 107

and rejoicing of all Zion's children. Therefore turn
again all you who are wandering from mountain to
hill; seeking rest but finding none. Turn to the
light in every one of your consciences; this is the
word of faith which we preach, which Moses taught
Israel, and the apostle Paul the Eomans, which is
nigh in the mouth, and in the heart. Here is your
teacher, if you hearken to the pure light, which
shows you the deceit of your hearts and your unclean
thoughts, from which proceeds uncleanncss which
the light makes manifest, which will rip you up and
reprove you in secret. The Lord God of life and
power is fulfilling His everlasting covenant in this
His day. He is writing His law in the heart and put-
ting it in the inward parts, that none need say know
the Lord, but all who turn to the measure of God
shall know Him, from the least to the greatest of
them. And by no other way or name under heaven
shall ye know the living G^d, but by this pure light
and law written in the heart. Here will ye come to
witness the Lord to be your God, and your King,
and your Law-giver, which all the professions of the
world are ignorant of; therefore to this pure mea-
sure of God in your inward parts have your minds,
that ye may come to witness cleansing and purging
within, that ye may come to see the uncleanness
which proceeds out of the heart, which defiles the
man. For out of the heart cometh evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testi->
mony, slanders ; these are the things which defile a
man.

And now jou teachers and professora who look
without jou, and turn from this, which should
cleanse within, how do you look that that which is
without jou, should cleanse from this uncleanoess
within? Let that of God in your consciences see
how you can be cleansed by this, when ye turn from
it. But if ye turn to the light which makes these
thiiigs manifest, and dwell and abide in it, then will
ye abstain from them, aad so come to witness
cleansing. For he that walkoth in the light, as
God ia in the light, the blood of Jesus eleauseth
from all sin. And Clirist Jesus saith, A good man
out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth
that which ia good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart, bringetli forth that which ia
evil; for out of the abundance of his heart his
mouth speaketh. And why call ye mc Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say ? Whosoever
Cometh to me and heareth my sayings, and doeth
them, I will show you to whom he is like; he is
like a man which built an house and digged deep,
and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the
floods arose, the streams heat violently upon the
house, !ind could not shake it, for it was built upon
a rock. Bnt he that heareth and doeth not, is like
a man, that without a foundation built an house
upon the earth, against which the streams did
violently, and immediately it fell, and the fall of
house was great.

Now professors here's your building, etemalljr'
you shuU witness this parable fiilfiUed upon joa,

ouse

MARGARET FOX. 109

the tempest and storms are coming, your house
will be beaten down, it cannot stand, for you have
been sayers a long time and not doers of the word ;
your house which you have built is without founda-
tion, it is not founded upon the rock Christ Jesus.
Ye who deny the light. He sayeth unto you. Why
call ye me Lord, and do not the things which I say ?
upon Him shall ye be beaten to pieces, and all your
profession. It is known and seen, ye are ma(fe mani-
fest^ ye cannot hide yourselves.

10

110 SWABTHMORE HALL.

SWARTHMORE HALL.

The following description, of the present state and
appearance of Swarthmore Hall, is taken from Armis-
tead's Select Miscellanies : —

'^ The Hall, though still a building of considerable
size, is no longer what it once was ; a large portioD
haying become ruinated has been altogether re-
moved; the oriel window from which George Fox
preached to the people in the orchard still remains,
and it is believed the owner of the property is
bound to accommodate any travelling Friend with a
bed. The hospitality of the Friends of Ulverston,
however, prevents this right being demanded; and
no instance has been known within memory, of any
Friend exercising his privilege. The old bedstead
bequeathed by George Fox, used to be kept here,
and may possibly still remain. The room in which
Friends held their meetings for the first forty years,
and which were generally graced with the attend-
ance of George or Margaret Fox, and others of the
society's parents in Christ, remains in its pristine
state, having an embrasured window, and a raised
dais at one end, which served for a mini.«?ter*8 gal-
lery.

The situation of the Hall is somewhat singular
and picturesque. Eastward of it, to the bay of
Morecamhe, extends a tract of rich champaign ooon-

SWARTHMORE HALL. Ill

try, rivalling for beauty, wood and fertility any
county in England ; the Swarthmore Hall estate for-
merly comprised much of this. Westward extends
the bleak tract of Swarthmoor recently enclosed, but
still strongly contrasting with the rich pasture of the
opposite view. Northward may be discerned the
town of Ulverston, and beyond the pointed mountains
of Coniston and the Lake district. The immediate
neighbourhood of the Hall is occupied by an ancient
grove of forest trees, partially screening from view
the barren common, while at the foot of the orchard
is a woody dell, through which a stream murmurs
over its pebbly bed.

The meeting-house is a solitary building, a quarter
of a mile from the Hall ; it is entered in the good
old-fashioned way, through a porch, with a bench on
each side, and Over the door the inscription : Ex
dono G. F., 1688 (the gift of George Fox, 1688).
It is commonly supposed he used to attend this meet-
ing. Such, however, is not the case ; he never sat
in it, being in the south of England from its comple-
tion until his decease. It was, however, built at his
cost, and on land given by him — the only piece of
land he ever possessed in England. On entering the
passage leading forward from the porch, two black
ebony pillars, plain and slender, are seen, one on
each side, supporting the ceiling. They are some-
times called George Fox*s bed-posts, and rightly so,
being the posts of the bedstead mentioned before. It
was considered the best way of preserving the two
principal posts, as well as to bim^ \JaKEDL xjsA'et '^^

112 8WABTHM0RE HALL.

notice of strangers, to place them in this situation.
Then there are also two massive arm-chairs, of solid
oak, adorned with carved work; they belonged to
George Fox and his wife, and were removed hither
from the Hall.

Adjoining the meeting-honse is the burial-ground,
which is somewhat modem. The old burial-ground
lies at Sunbreak, about a mile and a half distant, and
is to many a spot of peculiar and intense interest. It
is at the edge of a barren moor, the higher part of
which consists of naked limestone, and at the highest
point of all is the remains of a beacon. About a
third of a mile south of this beacon, where the culti-
vated laud begins, is a small enclosure, surrounded
with an eight foot wall, and entered by a low, narrow
door. This, for about the first seventy years of the
society's existence, was the burial-place belonging to
Swarthmore meeting.

Here lie the remains of many that braved persecu-
tion and suffering for conscience' sake, and so ob-
tained for us the privileges we enjoy. Many valiants
in the cause of truth have here been laid, when freed
from the troubles of time ; amongst them lie the re-
mains of Margaret Fox, emphatically a mother in
Israel, whose sufferings were rendered more poignant
from previous affluence, her body imprisoned, and
her estate premunired, yet her noble spirit remained
unbroken."

THE END.

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